On Wednesday, 28 January 2026, the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) reported that it is tracking the second stage of the Chinese Zhuque-3 launch vehicle (ZQ-3 R/B; NORAD: 66877, COSPAR: 2025-282A), whose deorbit, forecast for 29–30 January, may occur over Europe, including Poland.
Images: POLSA
The SSA POLSA Operations Center is continuously monitoring the trajectory of the 11,000 kg ZQ-3 R/B object (NORAD: 66877, COSPAR: 2025-282A), launched on 03/12/2025 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. Based on current orbital position information, we estimate the object’s entry into the Earth’s atmosphere between 2026-01-29 18:03 UTC and 2026-01-30 20:17 UTC.
Due to the inclination of this object’s orbit (56.94 degrees), its flight trajectory passes over a large part of Europe, including Poland.
The center of the re-entry uncertainty window is currently estimated at 2026-01-30 07:10 UTC +/- 13:07 hrs, and is subject to change.
Due to the estimated mass and unknown structure of the ZQ-3 R/B object, we would like to point out that it is uncertain whether the object will burn up completely in the Earth’s atmosphere.
National services and institutions are kept informed in accordance with applicable agreements and operational procedures.
POLSA
The Zhuque-3 launch vehicle, serial number Y1, lifted off from Launch Pad No. 96 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia on 3 December 2025 at 04:00 UTC. This was the first flight of the new rocket developed by the Beijing-based commercial operator LandSpace Technology Corporation. The rocket delivered a mass-and-dimension simulator payload to low Earth orbit (LEO).
Zhuque-3 is a partially reusable launch vehicle; however, during this mission the first stage (booster) was lost during the landing attempt, while the second stage successfully reached orbit, confirming the rocket’s orbital capability. The object is being monitored by the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST).
The Zhuque-3 is 65.9 m long with a liftoff mass of 550 tonnes. Its payload capacity to LEO is 11.8 tonnes. The first stage is powered by nine TQ-12A engines generating a combined maximum thrust of 7,200 kN, while the second stage is powered by a single TQ-15A engine producing 944.4 kN of thrust. Both stages use liquid methane fuel with an oxidizer.
A launch of the Y2 vehicle is planned for April this year. Ultimately, the company intends to operate the rocket in the heavier Zhuque-3E configuration, envisioned as an equivalent to the Falcon 9 rocket developed by SpaceX.