X Report 7 Mar 2025
Starship Flight 8 ends with mixed results as SpaceX successfully catches Super Heavy booster but loses the upper stage in a fiery breakup.
Launch Date
January 25, 1980
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/2
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
NORAD ID
11681
International Designator
1980-007B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:42:03 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
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Inclination
82.93°
Right Ascension
120.72°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
124.86°
Period
104.67 min
Mean Motion
13.76 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
SL-8 R/B
Alternative Name
Kosmos-3M 67-249 Stage 2
Type
Status
Owner
RVSN
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 11681U 80007B 26185.27920817 .00000086 00000-0 72636-4 0 9992
2 11681 82.9322 120.7197 0037249 124.8635 27.8357 13.75736207326594
Source: Celestrak
Length
4.2
Diameter
2.4
Span
4.2
Dry Mass
1434
Launch Mass
1434
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
4.7208
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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