Space Brief 10 Sep 2025
Today's highlights include China's launch of a mystery spysat, Maxar's terrain data for U.S. Army systems, and multiple U.S. defense firms enhancing satellite capabilities.
SL-8 R/B (10492)
COSPAR: 1977-109B | Alt Name: Kosmos-3M 46-302 Stage 2
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
November 24, 1977
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/1
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
10492
International Designator
1977-109B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 01:41:11 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
82.92°
Right Ascension
215.19°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
274.61°
Period
109.11 min
Mean Motion
13.20 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
SL-8 R/B
Alternative Name
Kosmos-3M 46-302 Stage 2
Type
Rocket Body
Status
Space Junk
Owner
RVSN
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 10492U 77109B 26185.07027375 .00000015 00000-0 63744-5 0 9998
2 10492 82.9203 215.1932 0018580 274.6093 113.8171 13.19788163340857
Source: Celestrak
Summary
A rocket body, also commonly referred to as an upper stage or spent rocket stage, is the structural shell left behind after a rocket has delivered its payload to orbit. These large and often heavy pieces of space hardware can remain in orbit for years, posing significant collision hazards as part of the growing space debris problem. If left uncontrolled, rocket bodies have the potential to reenter Earth's atmosphere unpredictably, which can lead to falling debris in populated areas. Additionally, they risk colliding with operational satellites or the International Space Station, creating more debris and putting human life at risk.
Physical Characteristics
Length
4.2
Diameter
2.4
Span
4.2
Dry Mass
1434
Launch Mass
1434
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
4.4869
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
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
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
US Agency Will Not Reinstate $900 Mln Subsidy for SpaceX Starlink Unit
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission reaffirms its decision to deny SpaceX's Starlink unit $885.5 million in rural broadband subsidies, impacting the company's plans for expanding internet access.
Starship Flight 12 Targets Mid-May Launch, X Report 2 May 2026
Starship Flight 12 status for May 2026: SpaceX targets mid-May with a revised trajectory, while Starlink 10-38 lofts 29 satellites from Cape Canaveral.
X Report 16 Apr 2025
SpaceX gears up for another busy week with a Falcon 9 launch to the ISS while Vast Space expands its Haven-1 payload roster.
Space Brief 7 Aug 2025
Today's brief covers significant developments in missile defense, military space operations, and upcoming rocket launches. Keep an eye on the evolving Golden Dome program and the advanced capabilities it brings.
X Report 29 Jan 2025
Key developments include political attention on SpaceX's ISS crew return and competition forecasts between SpaceX and ULA for national security missions.
Space Brief 4 Jun 2025
Key developments include China's Shijian 26 satellite launch, U.S. Space Force's BAE Systems contract for missile-tracking satellites, and military advancements in space systems.
GPS III SV10 | The Last of Its Kind, and the First of What Comes Next
On April 21, 2026, the tenth and final GPS Block III satellite reached medium Earth orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Named for Hedy Lamarr, the actress whose 1942 frequency-hopping patent underpins modern GPS, SV10 closes a procurement that took eight years to deliver hardware and opens the optical-crosslink era that will define the constellation's next decade.