China successfully recovered its first reusable orbital-class booster (Long March 10B) using a novel sea-based net capture method, marking a significant milestone in its reusable launch vehicle development. This achievement makes China the third entity globally to demonstrate controlled rocket recovery, following SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Background
Reusable rocket technology is critical for reducing space launch costs and increasing access to space. While SpaceX has led this field with vertical landing, alternative recovery methods like net capture offer different engineering challenges and potential advantages.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Jul 11, 2026 at 05:41 AM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10