Re-Entry: Long March 3A Rocket Body from first Beidou MEO Launch
A Long March 3A rocket stage re-entered the atmosphere on July 18, 2017 after over one decade in orbit, making a very slow decay from a Medium Earth Transfer Orbit. The Long March 3A rocket launched the first Beidou Medium Earth Orbit Satellite, an in-orbit validation craft that paved the way for the inauguration of the MEO Segment of the Beidou-2 navigation system – delivering services over China and the Asia-Pacific Region
NORAD ID: 31116
Origin: China
Object: CZ-3A Rocket Body
Type: Long March 3 Upper Stage
Dry Mass: 2,740 Kilograms
Inclination: 54.7°
Launched: April 13, 2007 – 20:11 UTC
Launch Vehicle: Long March 3A
Launch Site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China
Re-Entry Prediction: July 18, 2017
Re-Entry Zone: Unknown
