Soyuz 2.1b Launches 16 Rassvet-3 Satellites — 31 July 2026

What is launching and when?

A Soyuz 2.1b rocket is scheduled to launch 16 Rassvet-3 satellites for the Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) on 31 July 2026 at 00:00 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. The Soyuz 2.1b is a three-stage medium-lift orbital rocket, the modernized digital-control variant of the veteran Soyuz family that has flown since the 1960s.

The mission is currently listed with a TBD (to-be-determined) status, meaning the exact launch time may shift as ROSCOSMOS finalizes the schedule.

What is the payload?

The payload consists of 16 Rassvet-3 satellites, part of a Russian commercial low Earth orbit communications constellation. Rassvet (Russian for "dawn") satellites are small spacecraft designed to expand broadband and machine-to-machine connectivity coverage across Russian territory and beyond.

Deploying 16 spacecraft on a single flight makes this a dedicated constellation-building mission, using the Soyuz 2.1b's upper stage to distribute the satellites into their target orbit. Multi-satellite deployments like this are increasingly common as operators race to build out LEO networks.

What is the Soyuz 2.1b?

The Soyuz 2.1b is the upgraded member of the Soyuz-2 rocket series, distinguished from the 2.1a by its more powerful RD-0124 third-stage engine. It can deliver roughly 8,200 kg to low Earth orbit from Plesetsk and features a digital flight-control system that replaced the analog guidance of earlier Soyuz variants.

The Soyuz family remains one of the most flown launch vehicle lines in history, with thousands of launches across its many versions. The 2.1b variant is a workhorse for both government and constellation-deployment missions.

Where is Plesetsk Cosmodrome?

Plesetsk Cosmodrome is located about 800 km north of Moscow in Arkhangelsk Oblast. It is the world's northernmost major spaceport and historically the busiest, favored for launches into high-inclination and polar orbits thanks to its far-north latitude. The site has supported Soyuz-family and military launches for decades.

How to watch the launch live

ROSCOSMOS launches from Plesetsk, particularly military-adjacent or government missions, are not always broadcast live. When a webcast is available it is typically published through official Russian space agency channels close to liftoff. Because this mission carries a TBD status, confirm the schedule before setting reminders.

You can follow the countdown, track the rocket, and watch the deployed satellites on Cosmik:

• Check the full rocket launch schedule for the latest timing updates.
• Explore the live 3D satellite map to see everything in orbit in real time.
• Read the latest launch news for related mission coverage.
• Learn how to track satellites after they deploy.

Mission at a glance

Why this launch matters

Constellation deployments of 16 satellites at a time accelerate the buildout of orbital networks, adding capacity for communications services in a single flight. Each Soyuz 2.1b mission from Plesetsk also demonstrates the continued operational role of one of the most enduring rocket families ever built.

Once the Rassvet-3 satellites separate from the upper stage, they will begin raising and phasing into their operational positions within the constellation, a process that can take days to weeks.

Learn more

Background and references:

• Soyuz-2 rocket family (Wikipedia)
• Roscosmos (Wikipedia)
• Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Wikipedia)
• Launch data source: The Space Devs

Follow this Soyuz 2.1b mission live on Cosmik. Track the launch, watch the Rassvet-3 satellites join the constellation on our real-time 3D map, and enable free launch alerts so you never miss liftoff.