CZ-3C R/B (38731)

COSPAR: 2012-040B | Alt Name: CZ-3C Y9 Stage 3
DECAYED

Image
CZ-3C R/B Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

July 25, 2012

Launch Site

XICLF

Launch Pad

LC2

Launch Vehicle

Chang Zheng 3C

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

38731

International Designator

2012-040B

Decay Date

11/22/2012

Basic Satellite Info

Name

CZ-3C R/B

Alternative Name

CZ-3C Y9 Stage 3

Type

Rocket Body

Status

Space Junk

Owner

CASC

Country

China

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Summary
A rocket body, also commonly referred to as an upper stage or spent rocket stage, is the structural shell left behind after a rocket has delivered its payload to orbit. These large and often heavy pieces of space hardware can remain in orbit for years, posing significant collision hazards as part of the growing space debris problem. If left uncontrolled, rocket bodies have the potential to reenter Earth's atmosphere unpredictably, which can lead to falling debris in populated areas. Additionally, they risk colliding with operational satellites or the International Space Station, creating more debris and putting human life at risk.
Physical Characteristics

Length

12.4

Diameter

3

Span

12.4

Dry Mass

2800

Launch Mass

8400

Shape

Cyl

Radar Cross Section

6.3096

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

CZ-3C Stage 3

Purpose

Unknown

Mission

Unknown

Manufacturer

CALT

Life Expectancy

Unknown

Bus

CZ-3A Stage 3

Configuration

Unknown

Motor

Unknown

Equipment

Unknown

Power System

Unknown

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Satellite Articles

View All Posts »

Learn more about satellites and other related topics.

Space Brief 28 Oct 2025

Space Brief 28 Oct 2025

Today's brief covers China's Gaofen-14 satellite launch, Europe's advancements in asteroid defense through GomSpace, and Russia's controversial Burevestnik missile test.

Space Brief 1 Aug 2025

Space Brief 1 Aug 2025

Today's Space Brief covers a crucial weather data decision by the U.S. Defense Department, an innovative power supply for aerospace systems, advancements in satellite link technology, and Norway's maritime surveillance. AI/ML tools for airspace management and concerns about defense testing capabilities are also highlighted.

108 Minutes That Changed Everything - and the 20-Year Echo That Followed

108 Minutes That Changed Everything - and the 20-Year Echo That Followed

On April 12, 1961, a 27-year-old Soviet pilot rode a modified ICBM into orbit and came back alive after 108 minutes. Exactly twenty years later, two Americans climbed aboard an untested spacecraft covered in 31,000 ceramic tiles and bet their lives that the math was right.

Space Brief 6 Feb 2025

Space Brief 6 Feb 2025

Today's brief covers a diverse range of topics, including reentry mission approvals, leadership changes in the Space Development Agency, and innovative military satellite communications.

Space Force Deploys Meadowlands Satellite-Jamming System | KeepTrack Space Brief

Space Force Deploys Meadowlands Satellite-Jamming System | KeepTrack Space Brief

U.S. Space Force transitions Meadowlands mobile satellite-jamming platform to operational status. System provides ground forces with electronic warfare capability against adversary satellite links.

X Report 24 Dec 2025

X Report 24 Dec 2025

SpaceX gears up for significant 2026 launches while a Starlink satellite anomaly provides insights into its operations.

Starship Florida Launch Targeting 2026 | KeepTrack X Report

Starship Florida Launch Targeting 2026 | KeepTrack X Report

SpaceX is pushing to launch Starship from Cape Canaveral before end of 2026, with contractors ramping work at LC-39A.

NROL-72 Spy Satellites Launched; Starlink PNT Blocked | KeepTrack X Report

NROL-72 Spy Satellites Launched; Starlink PNT Blocked | KeepTrack X Report

SpaceX's 13th NRO proliferated-arch mission lifted off May 11 as Starlink shuts its GPS-rival feature ahead of a looming IPO.