CZ-3B R/B

CZ-3B R/B is a spent rocket body associated with China, launched on 2013-12-01 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China on the CE-3 launch. After 13 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 43,008 km and 471,583 km with an inclination of 76.3°. It travels at approximately 4,426 km/h (1.23 km/s), completing one full orbit every 374.3 hours — that’s roughly 0.06 orbits per day. Its orbital eccentricity of 0.8127 gives it a noticeably elliptical path, with significant altitude variation between perigee and apogee. At geostationary altitude, there is no meaningful atmospheric drag — this object will remain in orbit indefinitely unless actively deorbited. Spent rocket bodies like CZ-3B R/B are among the largest pieces of uncontrolled space debris and are priority targets for collision avoidance manoeuvres and future active debris removal efforts.

CZ-3B R/B orbits at an average altitude of 257,296 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. With an inclination of 76.3°, CZ-3B R/B passes over latitudes between 76.3°N and 76.3°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. China operates approximately 1,694 active satellites in total.