Science
COSMOS 2024 (ETALON 2)
Geodetic Laser Ranging (MEO) · Soviet Union / Russia
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The twin to ETALON-1, orbiting in a complementary GLONASS plane to provide calibration coverage across the full constellation. These two retroreflector spheres have provided the precise reference measurements underpinning Russia's global navigation satellite system for over 30 years — a permanent precision ruler in space that never wears out.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Medium Earth Orbita high vantage point, ideal for navigation
- Altitude
- 11,853–11,919 mi (19,075–19,182 km)
- Inclination
- 64.9°
- One orbit
- 11.3 hours2.1 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 20026
- Int’l designator
- 1989-039C
- Launched
- 1989
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.