SL-6 R/B(2) (20258)

COSPAR: 1989-078D | Alt Name: Blok-ML No. 181
DECAYED

Image
SL-6 R/B(2) Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

September 27, 1989

Launch Site

PLMSC

Launch Pad

LC43/4

Launch Vehicle

Molniya 8K78M

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

20258

International Designator

1989-078D

Decay Date

10/6/2003

Basic Satellite Info

Name

SL-6 R/B(2)

Alternative Name

Blok-ML No. 181

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

3.3

Diameter

2.3

Span

3.3

Dry Mass

900

Launch Mass

4500

Shape

Cyl

Radar Cross Section

2.5118

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Blok-ML No. 181

Purpose

Unknown

Mission

Unknown

Manufacturer

NPOE

Life Expectancy

Unknown

Bus

Blok-L

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.

X Report 29 Mar 2025

X Report 29 Mar 2025

Starlink gains ground in geopolitical shifts, while SpaceX makes progress on next-gen facilities and prepares for Crew-11 mission to ISS.

Starlink Airs First Super Bowl Ad, Artemis II Nears Launch | KeepTrack Space Brief

Starlink Airs First Super Bowl Ad, Artemis II Nears Launch | KeepTrack Space Brief

SpaceX debuts Starlink's first-ever Super Bowl ad to millions of viewers. Artemis II reaches Kennedy launch pad for first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo era.

Space Brief 28 Aug 2025

Space Brief 28 Aug 2025

Today's briefing covers collaborations enhancing defense capabilities, new satellite technologies entering the market, and strategic shifts in military satellite applications.

X Report 26 Dec 2024

X Report 26 Dec 2024

Launch of 21 new Starlink satellites, featuring cell phone connectivity, and updates on NASA and SpaceX collaborative missions.

Space Brief 15 May 2025

Space Brief 15 May 2025

Today's brief highlights a nuclear battery startup's funding boost, advisory board additions in the space sector, and key military updates impacting space operations.

X Report 5 Jan 2025

X Report 5 Jan 2025

SpaceX prepares for the next Starship test flight with significant vehicle upgrades, launches UAE's Thuraya-4 satellite, and reflects on a record-breaking 2024 while planning for a promising 2025.

Space Brief 6 May 2025

Space Brief 6 May 2025

Today's brief covers a significant hypersonic flight by Stratolaunch, the US Space Force's missile warning upgrades, and major government space investments.

The Bomb That NASA Built by Accident

The Bomb That NASA Built by Accident

An overlooked thermostat, eight hours of overheating on a Florida launch pad, and 200,000 miles of coasting through deep space. Then Oxygen Tank No. 2 tore itself apart, and three men had to figure out how to come home alive in a spacecraft designed to land on the Moon.