China Recovers First Orbital Rocket Booster Using Net System

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) achieved the first controlled recovery of an orbital-class reusable rocket booster on July 10, 2026. During the maiden flight of the kerosene and liquid oxygen-fueled Long March-10B, the rocket launched from the commercial spacecraft site in Wenchang, Hainan Province, and placed its payload into orbit.

Following the launch, the first-stage booster was captured on a seaborne platform in the South China Sea. Differing from the landing pads used by SpaceX, the recovery employed a unique net-capture system consisting of a tall fixed stand with four robotically-controlled crosswires to secure the rocket during its descent. This milestone makes China the second country to recover an orbital-class booster, narrowing the technological gap with the United States.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation intends to reuse the captured booster by the end of the year. This capability is expected to lower launch costs and improve the deployment of orbital data centers and satellite communications networks, potentially challenging SpaceX's Starlink in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Following the success, shares of satellite firms including China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications hit their 10% daily regulatory price limit.