July 11, 2026 — China has joined the reusable rocket club in spectacular fashion. The Long March 10B successfully launched from Hainan Island on Friday and, for the first time, China recovered an orbital-class booster — catching it midair with a net system suspended over a ship in the South China Sea.
A Historic Catch
The approximately 209-foot-tall (63.6-meter) rocket lifted off at 12:15 pm local time from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site, powered by seven kerosene-fueled YF-100K engines. About 10 minutes after launch, the booster descended from space and guided itself into a four-legged frame fitted with tensioned cables on an offshore recovery vessel. The rocket’s upper stage continued into orbit and successfully deployed a payload designated CX-26.
“A historic day in China’s space program!” wrote Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on X (formerly Twitter). “China’s Long March 10B has successfully completed its maiden flight — and recovered its first stage via a sea-based net. This marks the country’s first-ever controlled rocket recovery. A major leap toward reusable launch capabilities.”
How It Works: Catching Rockets at Sea
The recovery method is a clever hybrid of existing techniques. Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which lands on legs, or Blue Origin’s New Glenn, which touches down on offshore platforms, the Long March 10B uses a net-catch system. This approach reduces the weight penalty of landing legs — the rocket doesn’t carry them — and recovers the booster downrange, saving fuel during descent.
CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation) says the flight validated “key core technologies” including multiple engine restarts with high-altitude ignition, high-precision navigation and control, and the first-ever capture and recovery using a net system on a sea-based platform.
Third to Achieve Reusability
Friday’s success makes CASC the third enterprise to recover an orbital-class booster:
- SpaceX — landed Falcon 9 in 2015, caught Starship/Super Heavy in 2024
- Blue Origin — landed New Glenn in November 2025
- CASC (China) — Long March 10B net-catch, July 2026
The Long March 10B is a medium-lift rocket capable of carrying approximately 16 metric tons (35,000 pounds) to low-Earth orbit — slightly less than SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Its first stage uses seven YF-100K engines (kerosene/LOX), while the second stage is powered by a single methane-fueled YF-219 engine.
Part of a Bigger Picture: The Moon Mission
The Long March 10B is closely related to the Long March 10A (crewed missions to China’s Tiangong space station) and the Long March 10, a heavy-lift configuration that will combine three reusable first-stage boosters to send Chinese astronauts to the Moon. China has stated its goal of landing humans on the lunar surface by 2030.
CASC plans to complete a full booster reuse flight test by the end of 2026. The successful recovery brings China one step closer to competing with the United States in reusable launch technology — a capability US military officials have identified as a potential game-changer in space operations.
Why Reusable Rockets Matter
Reusable rockets dramatically reduce the cost of access to space. SpaceX’s Falcon 9, now flying boosters that have launched 20+ times, has reshaped the global launch market. China’s entry into reusability could accelerate their launch cadence, currently about half that of the US, and open new possibilities in satellite deployment, space station resupply, and deep-space exploration.
FAQ
What makes the Long March 10B’s recovery method unique?
Unlike SpaceX’s legs or Blue Origin’s platform landing, the Long March 10B uses a net-catch system on an offshore vessel. The booster hovers into a tensioned cable grid, which catches it midair. This method eliminates the need for landing legs, saving weight and increasing payload capacity.
When will China land astronauts on the Moon?
China’s official target is 2030. The Long March 10 heavy-lift rocket — which combines three reusable Long March 10 first-stage boosters — is the vehicle designed for the crewed lunar mission.
How does China’s space program compare to the US?
The US (led by SpaceX) still launches roughly twice as many payloads as China. However, China is rapidly closing the gap with reusable rocket technology, new crew capsules (Mengzhou), and an ambitious Moon program. China also operates its own space station, Tiangong.
How big is the Long March 10B?
The Long March 10B stands approximately 209 feet (63.6 meters) tall and is 16 feet (5 meters) in diameter. It can lift about 16 metric tons to low-Earth orbit.
Source: Ars Technica, Chinese Foreign Ministry