Private Russian company Sputniks, part of the Sitronics Group, is preparing to launch 28 spacecraft into Earth orbit this fall, with several units built to track shipping. TASS reported the plan. The satellites are intended to provide real-time maritime data and strengthen the ability to monitor vessels along Arctic routes, including the Northern Sea Route. After this launch, the SITRO-AIS constellation will total 52 spacecraft in orbit.
The mission uses a Soyuz-2.1b rocket, set to lift off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in November. The plan foresees deploying 24 satellites into the designated orbit to form the core SITRO-AIS network, while the remaining units will be launched across additional orbital planes. Once deployed, the SITRO-AIS network will comprise 52 spacecraft, delivering dense AIS coverage for shipping surveillance and Arctic monitoring across northern seas and beyond.
In addition to the main constellation, student-built CubeSats will be sent into orbit as part of the Space-Pi program to test a range of technologies. The Space-Pi initiative brings together academic groups and engineers to evaluate power systems, onboard computing, sensors, and communications in space, offering hands-on learning and practical data for future small satellite missions.
Meanwhile, a Falcon 9 mission successfully launched on September 25, placing 20 Starlink satellites into orbit. Astronomy and Astrophysics reported that the newer Starlink generation can produce notable radio interference that complicates astronomical observations. This concern has fueled discussions among researchers and space agencies about how large satellite constellations affect science, navigation, and communications, particularly for ground-based and space-based astronomy.
Earlier reports linked the Russian Armed Forces to an interest in deploying extensive satellite constellations, with figures sometimes cited higher than 800 satellites in the coming years. Observers in Canada and the United States view these developments within the broader context of growing private space activity and international dialogue on space traffic management. The evolving mix of commercial networks and state-led ambitions underscores the importance of spectrum coordination, debris mitigation, and cross-border regulatory cooperation as North America balances scientific inquiry, civilian use, and security considerations.