SJ 16-02 DEB

SJ 16-02 DEB is a tracked piece of space debris attributed to China, launched on 2016-06-29 from Jiuquan, China on the SJ-16-02 launch. After 10 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 582 km and 857 km with an inclination of 75.0°. It travels at approximately 26,992 km/h (7.50 km/s), completing one full orbit every 99 minutes — that’s roughly 14.52 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~25–100 years. As orbital debris, SJ 16-02 DEB poses a potential collision risk to operational satellites in nearby orbits and is continuously monitored by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network and other tracking systems.

SJ 16-02 DEB orbits at an average altitude of 720 km in the mid-LEO band, where atmospheric drag is minimal but radiation exposure remains manageable. Objects at this altitude persist for decades to centuries, making debris mitigation critical. This regime is popular for remote sensing constellations and scientific instruments that need stable, long-duration orbits. Within ±50 km of SJ 16-02 DEB’s average altitude, there are currently 284 active payloads and 1,670 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include TERRA, AQUA, LANDSAT 9. With an inclination of 75.0°, SJ 16-02 DEB passes over latitudes between 75.0°N and 75.0°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. China operates approximately 1,218 active satellites in total, of which 58 share a similar altitude band with SJ 16-02 DEB.