The Day America Entered the Space Age
Sixty-seven years ago, a slender rocket carried America's first satellite into orbit, discovering a mysterious feature of our planet that would change our understanding of space forever
SL-3 R/B (09904)
COSPAR: 1977-024B | Alt Name: Vostok-2M (N51) Stage 3
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
April 5, 1977
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC43/3
Launch Vehicle
Vostok 8A92M
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
09904
International Designator
1977-024B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:41:58 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
81.26°
Right Ascension
176.53°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
21.57°
Period
102.32 min
Mean Motion
14.07 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
SL-3 R/B
Alternative Name
Vostok-2M (N51) Stage 3
Type
Rocket Body
Status
Space Junk
Owner
RVSN
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 09904U 77024B 26185.23748622 .00000163 00000-0 88226-4 0 9998
2 09904 81.2630 176.5315 0053443 21.5652 338.7751 14.07334314527189
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
3.8
Diameter
2.6
Span
3.8
Dry Mass
1440
Launch Mass
1440
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
6.697
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
8A92ME
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
PROG
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Blok-E
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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