Turkmenistan Memorial Capsule
| Mission type | Memorial Satellite |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 2005-031C |
| SATCAT no. | 28811 |
| Mission duration | 21 years, 5 days (in orbit) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 23 August 2005, 21:10 UTC |
| Rocket | Dnepr[1] |
| Launch site | Baikonur Pad 109/95[1] |
| Contractor | ISC Kosmotras[2] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Semi-major axis | 7,268 km (4,516 mi)[3] |
| Periapsis altitude | 602.1 km (374.1 mi)[3] |
| Apoapsis altitude | 1,193.3 km (741.5 mi)[3] |
| Inclination | 97.8 °[3] |
| Period | 102.8 min[3] |
The Turkmenistan Memorial Capsule (TMC for short,[4] also known as SL-24 R/B[3]) is a memorial satellite which was launched into a Sun-synchronous orbit in 2005 by a Ukrainian Dnepr rocket, alongside OICETS and Reimei.[2] The first Turkmen satellite has been described as a "remarkable oddity" among non-scientific satellites.[4]
The capsule is bolted to the Dnepr 3rd stage and it contains a flag of Turkmenistan and the book of Ruhnama.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 ""Turkmenistan Memorial Capsule"". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2026-06-25.
- 1 2 "Turkmenistan Memorial Capsule". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2026-06-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "SL-24 R/B". n2yo.com. Retrieved 2026-06-25.
- 1 2 Capderou, Michel (2014). Handbook of Satellite Orbits. From Kepler to GPS. Cham: Springer. p. 429-430. ISBN 978-3-319-03415-7. Retrieved 2026-06-25.