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China recovered its first reusable rocket and showed a new way to do it

arstechnica.com·Jul 10, 2026

China successfully recovered its first reusable orbital-class rocket booster, the Long March 10B, in a controlled landing at sea, marking a significant milestone in its space program and advancing its capabilities in reusable launch technology. This achievement positions China alongside SpaceX and Blue Origin in the realm of reusable rocketry, potentially enhancing its launch capacity and competitiveness in space exploration.

China's recent successful recovery of a reusable Long March 10B rocket using a sea-based net system marks a significant advancement in their reusable launch capabilities. This method, which integrates an offshore vessel and reduces payload capacity impact, positions China as a strong competitor in the reusable rocket domain, following SpaceX and Blue Origin. For professionals tracking space tech developments, this signals China's increasing capacity to close the launch frequency gap with the U.S., potentially impacting the global space economy and the competitive landscape in commercial space ventures.

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