China achieved a milestone in reusable rocket technology Friday, recovering the first-stage booster of its Long March-10B carrier rocket following the vehicle’s maiden flight, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed via CGTN. The rocket lifted off from Pad No. 2 at the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center, successfully delivering a satellite to its preset orbit. Roughly six minutes after liftoff, the booster was captured by a cable recovery system aboard a specially designed vessel, Linghangzhe ("Pathfinder"), stationed in waters off Hainan—marking the world’s first successful rocket-booster recovery using a net-and-cable system, and China’s first reusable booster recovery of any kind.
The Long March-10B is a reusable two-stage, five-meter-diameter vehicle sharing its first-stage core with the Long March-10A. Seven liquid oxygen-kerosene engines power the booster, while a liquid oxygen-methane engine drives the upper stage. In reusable configuration, it can carry up to 16 tonnes to low-Earth orbit—intended chiefly for deploying large satellite constellations and other commercial payloads at reduced cost.
