CHUANG XIN 16B (CX-16B)

CHUANG XIN 16B (CX-16B) is an active satellite operated by Chinese Academy of Sciences (China), launched on 2022-08-23 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China on the Chuangxin-16A/B launch. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 388 km and 391 km with an inclination of 29.0°. It travels at approximately 27,643 km/h (7.68 km/s), completing one full orbit every 92 minutes — that’s roughly 15.59 orbits per day. Its near-circular orbit (eccentricity close to zero) means it maintains a very consistent altitude throughout each revolution. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is months to ~1 year. Orbital Radar tracks CHUANG XIN 16B (CX-16B) in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

CHUANG XIN 16B (CX-16B) orbits at an average altitude of 390 km in the lower reaches of Low Earth Orbit, where atmospheric drag is significant and orbital lifetimes are measured in months to a few years. This is the busiest corridor in space — home to crewed spacecraft, rapid-revisit imaging satellites and the densest part of the Starlink constellation. Within ±50 km of CHUANG XIN 16B (CX-16B)’s average altitude, there are currently 1,362 active payloads and 72 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include ISS (ZARYA), STARLINK-1008, STARLINK-1012. This makes it one of the more crowded altitude bands, containing roughly 7.2% of all active satellites. With an inclination of 29.0°, CHUANG XIN 16B (CX-16B) passes over latitudes between 29.0°N and 29.0°S, covering the tropical and temperate zones where most of the world’s population resides. Low-to-mid inclination orbits are efficient to reach from equatorial and mid-latitude launch sites. China operates approximately 1,341 active satellites in total, of which 39 share a similar altitude band with CHUANG XIN 16B (CX-16B).