Space Brief 8 Mar 2025
Today's Space Brief covers the landing of the X-37B spaceplane after a 434-day mission, the postponement of SDA's satellite launch, and the fiery debris from SpaceX's Starship over The Bahamas.
CZ-3C DEB (48548)
COSPAR: 2012-008AT | Alt Name: deb CZ-3C Y6
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
February 24, 2012
Launch Site
XICLF
Launch Pad
LC2
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 3C
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
48548
International Designator
2012-008AT
Epoch
Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:57:12 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
21.24°
Right Ascension
309.92°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
224.95°
Period
450.74 min
Mean Motion
3.19 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
CZ-3C DEB
Alternative Name
deb CZ-3C Y6
Type
Debris
Status
Space Junk
Owner
CASC
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 48548U 12008AT 24227.66472624 .00162071 00000-0 11128+0 0 9993
2 48548 21.2388 309.9235 6551337 224.9504 58.3445 3.19477155101005
Source: Celestrak
Summary
Space debris, also known as space junk, encompasses all non-functional objects orbiting Earth such as defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or disintegrations. Over time, this debris can accumulate and create an increasingly hazardous environment in orbit. Even tiny fragments, traveling at extremely high velocities, can inflict significant damage on operational satellites and spacecraft. If left unmanaged, the density of debris raises the risk of catastrophic collisions and further fragmentation, compounding the problem and threatening the safety and sustainability of space activities.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
CALT
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Falcon Heavy Returns After 18-Month Hiatus, Lofts ViaSat-3 F3 | KeepTrack X Report
Falcon Heavy completed its 12th flight ever on April 29, ending an 18-month stand-down by lofting the 6-ton ViaSat-3 F3 comsat to GTO.
X Report 25 Nov 2024
SpaceX launches multiple Starlink batches, FAA updates for Starship, and NASA plans lunar cargo deliveries involving SpaceX and Blue Origin.
GPS III SV10 Launches on Falcon 9, X Report 20 Apr 2026
GPS III SV10 launched April 21 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 with 3x better accuracy and 8x anti-jamming. Starlink stands at 10,263 working satellites.
X Report 20 Oct 2025
SpaceX made significant strides with the successful launch of Starlink satellites and the approval for the redevelopment of SLC-6, reinforcing its foothold in commercial spaceflight.
$4.16B Space Force Contract Goes to SpaceX, X Report 30 May 2026
SpaceX wins a $4.16B US Space Force contract for an airborne threat tracking satellite network. Starlink holds 10,413 satellites in orbit, 10,397 working.
The Day Superpowers Shared Space
Exactly 52 years ago today, the Soviet Union launched Soyuz 13 - a scientific mission that marked the first time American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts orbited Earth simultaneously. Armed with a revolutionary ultraviolet telescope, Pyotr Klimuk and Valentin Lebedev would discover elements never before seen in distant nebulae.
X Report 18 Nov 2025
SpaceX successfully launched the Sentinel-6B satellite to monitor global sea levels while resuming daytime rocket launches. Furthermore, delays in the Starship timeline impact NASA's Artemis 3 mission schedule.