CZ-4C DEB

CZ-4C DEB is a tracked piece of space debris attributed to China, launched on 2022-12-12 from Jiuquan, China on the Shiyan 20A/20B launch. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 778 km and 789 km with an inclination of 60.0°. It travels at approximately 26,871 km/h (7.46 km/s), completing one full orbit every 101 minutes — that’s roughly 14.32 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 ~25–100 years. As orbital debris, CZ-4C 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.

CZ-4C DEB orbits at an average altitude of 784 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 CZ-4C DEB’s average altitude, there are currently 412 active payloads and 2,214 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include NOAA 20, ONEWEB-0179, ONEWEB-0455. With an inclination of 60.0°, CZ-4C DEB passes over latitudes between 60.0°N and 60.0°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. China operates approximately 1,217 active satellites in total, of which 80 share a similar altitude band with CZ-4C DEB.