CZ-6A DEB

CZ-6A DEB is a tracked piece of space debris attributed to China, launched on 2024-08-06 from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China on the Qianfan Jigui 01 launch. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 646 km and 797 km with an inclination of 89.0°. It travels at approximately 26,988 km/h (7.50 km/s), completing one full orbit every 99 minutes — that’s roughly 14.51 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~25–100 years. As orbital debris, CZ-6A 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-6A DEB orbits at an average altitude of 722 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-6A DEB’s average altitude, there are currently 332 active payloads and 1,895 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include TERRA, AQUA, ONEWEB-0179. With an inclination of 89.0°, CZ-6A DEB passes over latitudes between 89.0°N and 89.0°S, providing near-global coverage including the polar regions. Polar and near-polar orbits are used for reconnaissance, weather monitoring and Earth-observation missions that need to image every part of the planet. China operates approximately 1,695 active satellites in total, of which 50 share a similar altitude band with CZ-6A DEB.