China recovers its first reusable orbital rocket booster, catching the Long March 10B at sea
The booster was captured by a net on a sea platform about six minutes after liftoff, marking China's first success with technology key to cutting launch costs.
China completed its first controlled recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster on Friday, 10 July 2026, bringing reusable-launch technology developed by SpaceX within its reach. The Long March 10B lifted off from the Wenchang commercial spaceport on Hainan island and, roughly six minutes after stage separation, the first stage was captured by hooks and a net mounted on a floating platform at sea.
The recovery sequence
The booster did not perform an autonomous landing on legs, as a Falcon 9 does. Instead, the recovery ship "Linghangzhe" tracked the returning stage and adjusted its position continuously. When the booster descended, metal hooks engaged with cables in a rectangular framework on the platform, arresting the vehicle in a near-vertical orientation. State broadcaster CCTV and the official "China Military Bugle" account released video of the engine firing during final approach.
A different path to reusability
China's approach marks the first time an orbital first stage has been recovered with a cable-and-net capture system. The Long March 10B, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), can place at least 16 tonnes into low Earth orbit. It is considered the primary Chinese competitor to SpaceX's Falcon 9, which has been reusing boosters since 2015 and now flies roughly 150 missions per year.
A significant breakthrough.
China is now, after the United States, the second country to have a reliable technology for reusable rockets.
February precursor and next flight
An earlier controlled-recovery attempt was made in February 2026 with the Long March 10A, but that test ended with a splashdown near the recovery platform rather than a successful capture. The booster recovered on 10 July is planned to fly again before the end of 2026, according to state media. Reuse is central to lowering launch costs for the satellite constellations China intends to deploy in the coming years.
Market response
Chinese space-sector stocks rose sharply on the news. China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications both closed at the maximum 10% daily limit allowed by exchange rules.
- Long March 10B launches from the commercial spaceport on Hainan island.
- First stage separates from the upper stage.
- Booster executes a controlled re-entry and descent.
- Booster caught by hooks in a net on the floating recovery platform.
Crewed ambitions
The Long March 10 family also supports China's crewed lunar exploration program, which targets a mission before 2030. While private Chinese firms are pursuing their own reusable technologies, Friday's test shows the state-run program making concrete technical progress toward operational booster reuse.
