#aerospace

On July 10, 2026, China's Long March 10B rocket successfully recovered its first stage at sea using a net capture system on a sea platform, marking the world's first net-based rocket recovery and China's first controlled recovery of an orbital booster. This breakthrough demonstrates China's rapid progress in reusable rocket technology, directly challenging SpaceX's Falcon 9. The net-based recovery method reduces rocket structural mass and increases payload capacity, potentially lowering launch costs and accelerating space access. The recovery occurred approximately 11 minutes after launch, with the first stage landing vertically on a sea platform equipped with a net capture system. Net-based recovery is highly adaptable to landing-point deviations and simplifies the rocket's onboard structure compared to propulsive landing.