SL-12 R/B(2)

SL-12 R/B(2) is a spent rocket body associated with Russia (CIS), launched on 2010-09-02 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on the Uragan-M No. 736 launch. After 16 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 18,996 km and 19,208 km with an inclination of 63.9°. It travels at approximately 14,241 km/h (3.96 km/s), completing one full orbit every 11 hours 15 minutes — that’s roughly 2.13 orbits per day. Spent rocket bodies like SL-12 R/B(2) are among the largest pieces of uncontrolled space debris and are priority targets for collision avoidance manoeuvres and future active debris removal efforts.

SL-12 R/B(2) orbits at an average altitude of 19,102 km in Medium Earth Orbit, the region between LEO and GEO (2,000–35,786 km). MEO’s higher altitude gives each satellite a much larger ground footprint than LEO, meaning fewer spacecraft are needed for global coverage — but signal latency is higher and radiation from the Van Allen belts is a significant design constraint. Within ±50 km of SL-12 R/B(2)’s average altitude, there are currently 142 active payloads and 50 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include COSMOS 1413 (GLONASS), COSMOS 1414 (GLONASS), COSMOS 1415 (GLONASS). With an inclination of 63.9°, SL-12 R/B(2) passes over latitudes between 63.9°N and 63.9°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. Russia (CIS) operates approximately 1,286 active satellites in total, of which 142 share a similar altitude band with SL-12 R/B(2).