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
May 20, 1980
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/2
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
NORAD ID
11804
International Designator
1980-039B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:16:54 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
82.94°
Right Ascension
158.23°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
5.41°
Period
104.61 min
Mean Motion
13.77 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 75-116 Stage 2
Type
Status
Owner
RVSN
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 11804U 80039B 26185.22007364 .00000152 00000-0 13902-3 0 9996
2 11804 82.9430 158.2288 0020932 5.4087 354.7292 13.76594152315606
Source: Celestrak
Length
4.2
Diameter
2.4
Span
4.2
Dry Mass
1434
Launch Mass
1434
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
4.327
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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