Recently, during a visit to a Russian technological innovation exhibition, Putin offered high praise for Elon Musk, describing him as a "true genius," while also commending Russia’s domestically developed satellite internet system, "Dawn," which aims to rival Musk’s Starlink.
The Minister of Digital Development briefed Putin on the "Dawn" project. Putin noted that Musk has already launched over 5,000 satellites into orbit, underscoring the scale and capability of his operation. Russia, now independently launching its own satellite internet network, expressed deep pride in this achievement.
Putin revealed that despite ongoing political tensions between Russia and the United States, Moscow continues to maintain close communication with American counterparts—including Musk—to prevent orbital collisions between their respective satellites. Russian space agencies are also advancing collaborative efforts in this domain.
According to official descriptions, the "Dawn" project currently has more than 30 satellites operational in orbit. The program began experimental satellite launches between 2023 and 2024, with plans to deploy an additional 32 satellites by 2026. Russia’s stated objective is to expand the constellation to 292 satellites by the end of 2027, and reach 900 satellites by 2035.
Putin acknowledged that Russia’s satellite network is still in its early stages, but emphasized that the project has successfully taken shape. Moving forward, the focus will shift from refining technical quality to expanding the number of satellites in the constellation.
Publicly praising a key competitor like Musk carries significant implications. On one hand, it reflects a candid acknowledgment of Starlink’s technological lead, without dismissing the opponent out of ideological or nationalistic bias. On the other, it signals a deliberate push to elevate Russia’s domestic "Dawn" initiative, demonstrating determination to close the gap in the emerging space-based internet sector.
Starlink has long transcended its civilian applications, proving its military utility during the Ukraine conflict. This has compelled Russia to develop its own satellite internet infrastructure. Even amid sharp geopolitical tensions, Russia remains open to dialogue with Musk’s team to avoid orbital interference—evidence of pragmatic realism in technical cooperation, where political friction does not fully obstruct scientific and engineering exchange.
Yet the disparity in scale remains stark: Starlink operates thousands of satellites in orbit, while Russia’s "Dawn" is only beginning. Scaling from dozens to hundreds or even thousands of satellites will require sustained, massive investment and expanded launch capacity.
Russia’s approach—acknowledging the strength of its adversary while pursuing independent development—deserves careful consideration. However, whether the project can meet its ambitious expansion targets will ultimately depend on overcoming real-world constraints in funding, technology, and industrial output.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880332684061700/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.