A widely observed space debris reentry illuminated the skies over Delhi, Gurugram, and surrounding cities including Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Dwarka, and Aligarh at around 01:20–01:30 IST on September 20, 2025 (19:50–20:00 UTC on September 19). The bright fireball produced multiple glowing fragments before fading. While some initial reports described it as a meteor, video evidence indicates the event was consistent with orbital debris disintegration.
A bright fireball crossed the skies of northern India at around 01:20–01:30 IST on September 20 (19:50–20:00 UTC on September 19). The object was widely observed across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Dwarka, and Aligarh, where it fragmented into multiple pieces before fully disintegrating in the atmosphere.
Although several initial reports described the object as a meteor, its relatively slow apparent velocity, extended luminous passage, and visible fragmentation are consistent with a space debris reentry rather than a natural bolide. Such features match the behavior of man-made objects decaying from low-Earth orbit.
The timing also overlaps with a predicted reentry of CZ-3B R/B (NORAD 61188) rocked body. According to The Aerospace Corporation, the object was expected to reenter at 16:45 UTC ± 4 hours on September 19, 2025.
This forecast window spans from 12:45 to 20:45 UTC on September 19. The fireball over Delhi, observed at ~19:50–20:00 UTC on September 19, occurred within this predicted interval, making CZ-3B R/B a strong candidate for the event.
The rocket body originates from China’s Long March 3B launch vehicle, used to place Beidou-3 M25 and Beidou-3 M27 navigation satellites into orbit. It was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on September 19, 2024, and designated 2024-168D (NORAD 61188).
As of this update, no debris fragments have been recovered on the ground, and the object appears to have fully disintegrated at high altitude.
Uncontrolled orbital debris reentries occur globally several times each year, most often over oceans or sparsely inhabited regions. Documented events over major urban areas, such as this one, remain relatively rare and provide valuable observational records for orbital debris monitoring.
Indian authorities and international tracking organizations have not yet issued an official classification of the event.
References:
1 CZ-3B R/B (ID 61188) – Aerospace Corporation – Accessed September 20, 2025.