Japan's H3 Returns to Flight With 6 Satellites | KeepTrack Space Brief
Japan's H3 rocket successfully launched June 11, deploying 6 smallsats to orbit after December failure. First return-to-flight for JAXA's flagship heavy-lift vehicle.
SL-8 R/B (27535)
COSPAR: 2002-046B | Alt Name: Kosmos-3M 21-706 Stage 2
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
September 26, 2002
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/1
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
27535
International Designator
2002-046B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:07:24 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
82.93°
Right Ascension
297.65°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
214.58°
Period
104.75 min
Mean Motion
13.75 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 21-706 Stage 2
Type
Rocket Body
Status
Space Junk
Owner
RVSNR
Country
Russia
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 27535U 02046B 26185.25514627 .00000081 00000-0 68920-4 0 9996
2 27535 82.9340 297.6462 0035952 214.5754 170.4850 13.74701563192204
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
6
Diameter
2.4
Span
6
Dry Mass
1434
Launch Mass
1434
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
5.232
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
S3M
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
POL
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
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