China Becomes Second Nation to Recover an Orbital-Class Rocket Booster with Long March-10B

13 July 2026National

China successfully recovered the first-stage booster of its new Long March-10B (CZ-10B) carrier rocket during its maiden flight on 10 July 2026, becoming only the second nation after the United States to recover an orbital-class rocket. Launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site at Wenchang, the booster was caught at sea using a novel wire-arrestment 'net-capture' system rather than SpaceX-style landing legs - the world's first net-based recovery of a carrier rocket. Built by CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation), the reusable Long March-10B can lift about 16 tonnes to low-Earth orbit and supports China's crewed lunar programme (a Moon landing is targeted before 2030). Reusable first stages sharply cut the cost of reaching orbit.

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Long March-10B built by CASC | Launched from Wenchang, Hainan | Payload: about 16 tonnes to LEO | SpaceX (Falcon 9) pioneered booster reuse

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China recovered the Long March-10B first-stage booster (10 July 2026) via a sea-based net-capture system - the world's first net recovery; China is the 2nd nation to recover an orbital-class booster.

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