China has successfully tested a sea-based rocket booster recovery system for the first time, marking a major milestone in its efforts to develop reusable launch vehicles and narrow the gap with U.S. space companies led by SpaceX.
The experimental recovery, carried out on Friday using a net mounted on an offshore platform, is China’s first successful retrieval of an orbital-class rocket booster and could help reduce launch costs as the country expands its commercial space and lunar programmes.
Long March 10B completes successful recovery
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the Long March 10B rocket lifted off from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site in southern China at 12:15 p.m. local time (0415 GMT).
About six minutes after the rocket’s booster separated from the upper stage, the booster performed a controlled vertical descent before being successfully captured by a net suspended from a sea-based recovery platform.
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The achievement represents China’s first successful recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster after launch.
Milestone in China’s reusable rocket programme
The successful test moves China closer to developing fully reusable launch systems, a technology regarded as essential for lowering the cost of accessing space.
China has spent nearly a decade researching reusable rocket technologies, progressing from low-altitude hovering demonstrations to increasingly sophisticated recovery attempts.
Reusable rockets are expected to play a key role in supporting China’s rapidly expanding commercial satellite networks and long-term space exploration ambitions.
Long March 10B compared with Falcon 9
The Long March 10B has often been compared with SpaceX’s Falcon 9, one of the world’s most successful reusable rockets.
Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the Long March 10B can carry at least 16 metric tons of payload into low-Earth orbit.
Unlike Falcon 9, however, China’s recovery system uses a different approach.
Key differences include:
- Falcon 9: Lands vertically on deployable landing legs aboard a drone ship or landing pad.
- Long March 10B: Uses landing hooks that catch a large net mounted on a floating offshore recovery platform.
The sea-based net recovery system is designed to eliminate the need for landing legs while simplifying booster retrieval.
China still trails U.S. reusable launch capability
Although the latest achievement represents significant progress, China still trails the United States in reusable launch technology.
SpaceX completed the world’s first successful orbital Falcon 9 booster landing in December 2015, fundamentally changing the economics of space launches.
Blue Origin followed with the first orbital recovery of its New Glenn rocket in November 2025.
Today, Falcon 9 flies approximately 150 missions annually, with individual boosters routinely reused multiple times, making the first-stage booster one of the most valuable components of each launch.
Chinese aerospace stocks jump
Investors welcomed the successful recovery test.
Shares in several Chinese aerospace companies surged after the announcement, including:
- China Spacesat
- China Satellite Communications
Both stocks rose to their daily trading limits following state media reports of the successful mission.
Private sector also pursuing reusable rockets
China’s private space industry is also racing to develop reusable launch systems.
The government has eased initial public offering (IPO) rules for companies working on reusable rockets to help attract investment and accelerate development.
Last year:
- Private launch company LandSpace attempted reusable booster recovery.
- State-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) also conducted recovery tests.
Both efforts fell short during the final landing phase.
Friday’s successful Long March 10B recovery marks China’s first breakthrough at the orbital scale.
Role in China’s lunar programme
The Long March 10 family is also central to China’s plans to land astronauts on the Moon before 2030.
Officials say technologies validated during the booster recovery test could support future crewed lunar missions by improving rocket reliability and reducing launch costs.
According to CCTV, China plans to reuse the recovered Long March 10B booster for another launch before the end of this year.
Future outlook
China’s successful sea-based booster recovery represents an important step toward establishing a reusable launch capability that can support its growing commercial satellite industry and ambitious lunar exploration programme.
Although the country remains behind SpaceX in operational experience and launch frequency, continued advances in reusable rocket technology could significantly reduce launch costs and strengthen China’s competitiveness in the global space industry over the coming decade.
With information from Reuters.
