In orbitRocket body

SL-8 R/B

NORAD: 12139
COSPAR: 1981-003B

OrbitalWiki publishes live orbits for active satellites only. This object is in the full catalogue: who launched it, what it is and its last published orbit are below, but there are no current orbital elements for it here.

Spacecraft

Built by: Omsk Aviation Plant
Owner: Strategic Rocket Forces
Platform (bus): S3
Mass at launch: 1,434 kg
Dry mass: 1,434 kg
Length: 4.2 m
Diameter: 2.4 m
Span with arrays and booms: 4.2 m
Shape: Cyl

From GCAT by Jonathan McDowell (CC BY 4.0), record S12139, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Launch

Launch date: 1981-01-16
Rocket: Kosmos 11K65M
Flight: Kosmos-1238
Mission name: Vektor
Launch site: NIIP-53, LC132/1
Launched by: Strategic Rocket Forces
Rocket performance: Success
Launch designator: 1981-003

From the GCAT launch log, launch 1981-003, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Catalogue record

Object type: Rocket body
Owner code: CIS
Launch date: 1981-01-16
Period: 94.8 min
Inclination: 82.93°
Apogee: 671 km
Perigee: 346 km
Radar cross-section: 5.479 m²

From CelesTrak SATCAT, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Where it came from

Catalogued pieces that came from it: 1

Everything from this launch

Payload1 in total, 1 still in orbit
Rocket body1 in total, 1 still in orbit