X Report 3 Jan 2025
SpaceX's pivotal role in setting a new global launch record and the upcoming launch of the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite are spotlighted today.
SL-8 R/B (18669)
COSPAR: 1987-103B | Alt Name: Kosmos-3M 26-183 Stage 2
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
December 15, 1987
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC133/3
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
18669
International Designator
1987-103B
Decay Date
9/21/1988
Basic Satellite Info
Name
SL-8 R/B
Alternative Name
Kosmos-3M 26-183 Stage 2
Type
Rocket Body
Status
Space Junk
Owner
RVSN
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
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
15.56
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
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Congress Passes FY2026 Bill Reinstating NASA Funding, Slingshot Wins $27M AI Contract | KeepTrack Space Brief
Congress passes FY2026 spending bill reinstating NASA funding. Slingshot Aerospace wins $27M Space Force contract for AI satellite training. Portal Space selects Atomic-6 debris shield for 2026 mission.
SpaceX Preps First February Starlink Launch, Orbital Data Centers Gain Traction | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX readies Starlink 17-32 launch of 25 satellites from Vandenberg. Orbital data center economics draw attention from Musk and Bezos. 9,614 Starlink sats on orbit.
X Report 2 Oct 2025
Today's briefing covers Starlink's role in disaster recovery in the Philippines, insights into the evolving direct-to-device market, and news of European plans for a reusable upper stage rocket inspired by SpaceX's Starship.
X Report 16 Nov 2025
SpaceX successfully launched 29 Starlink satellites on November 14, marking the first of two rapid-fire Falcon 9 missions from Florida's Space Coast in under four hours.
Space Brief 2 Jan 2025
Today's recap covers SpaceX's role in record launch numbers, the FCC's spectrum allocation for launches, and the historical portrayal of the Ingenuity helicopter.
The Multi-Orbit Myth? Why One Startup Thinks the Satellite Industry Got It Wrong
The satellite industry's biggest operators are betting on multi-orbit architectures that combine LEO, MEO, and GEO into unified networks. A San Francisco startup called Contrivian thinks they've overcomplicated the problem, and the physics might be on its side.
Space Brief 23 Nov 2024
Today's highlights include Canada's and Australia's investment in hypersonic defense, China's successful test of an inflatable space module, and Sweden's support of Ukrainian missile and drone production.