China has achieved a major milestone in its space programme after successfully landing a reusable rocket for the first time on Friday, a breakthrough expected to help reduce the cost of future space missions.
The achievement also strengthens China’s position in competing with the United States in reusable rocket technology, a field currently led by companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin.
According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Long March-10B rocket was launched at 12.15pm from a launch site in Hainan before successfully placing a satellite into orbit.
Following the launch, the rocket’s first-stage booster, which provides the initial thrust during liftoff, was recovered using a net-based capture system on a floating platform at sea.
Footage broadcast by state television station CCTV showed the rocket descending in a controlled manner before landing safely on the platform.
The agency described the achievement as a significant breakthrough in China’s development of reusable rocket technology.
Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which relies on landing legs during recovery, the Long March-10B uses a net-based capture system.
Technical expert from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, Chen Muye, said the system provides greater flexibility for rocket recovery operations.
He explained that the method allows the rocket structure to be simplified as it removes the need for landing legs, reducing the overall weight of the vehicle.
The weight reduction could increase payload capacity while improving operational efficiency, he added.
Most conventional rockets are designed for one-time use, with their components either falling into the ocean, burning up in the atmosphere or remaining as space debris after launch.
The first stage of a rocket is also considered the most expensive component of the entire launch system, making reusability a key factor in reducing costs for satellite and spacecraft missions.
The Long March-10 rocket series was developed to support China’s future lunar exploration missions.
