GJZ 03

GJZ 03 is an active satellite operated by China, launched on 2024-12-12 from Jiuquan, China. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 967 km and 994 km with an inclination of 59.9°. It travels at approximately 26,508 km/h (7.36 km/s), completing one full orbit every 105 minutes — that’s roughly 13.75 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~100–500 years. Orbital Radar tracks GJZ 03 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

GJZ 03 orbits at an average altitude of 981 km in the upper LEO band, where atmospheric drag is negligible and objects can persist for centuries to millennia. This altitude is used by broadband constellations like OneWeb and by scientific missions requiring stable orbits far from the densest debris bands. Within ±50 km of GJZ 03’s average altitude, there are currently 282 active payloads and 951 tracked debris or rocket body fragments. With an inclination of 59.9°, GJZ 03 passes over latitudes between 59.9°N and 59.9°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 25 share a similar altitude band with GJZ 03.