The Day a Giant Space Balloon United the Cold War
When a 135-foot inflatable mirror bounced a radio signal from England to Russia, it became the first joint US-Soviet space venture - and changed how we think about satellite communication.
Launch Date
October 18, 1974
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/2
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
NORAD ID
07477
International Designator
1974-079B
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 19:19:48 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
82.94°
Right Ascension
108.13°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
214.16°
Period
104.78 min
Mean Motion
13.74 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
SL-8 R/B
Alternative Name
Kosmos-3M 53-207 Stage 2
Type
Status
Owner
RVSN
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 07477U 74079B 26200.80541755 .00000045 00000+0 32075-4 0 9996
2 07477 82.9443 108.1337 0032683 214.1572 206.9050 13.74281689594227
Source: Celestrak
Length
4.2
Diameter
2.4
Span
4.2
Dry Mass
1434
Launch Mass
1434
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
3.9359
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
S3M
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
OAZ
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
S3
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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