China Lands a Rocket Booster in a Net for the First Time
China has recovered the first stage of an orbital rocket for the first time, joining an exclusive club with only SpaceX and Blue Origin.
On Friday, the booster of a Long March-10B lifted off from Hainan Island, separated, and flew back to a barge at sea, according to the Associated Press, citing state media. What made this milestone even more unique was the recovery method: a giant net. Local media referred to it as the world’s first “net-based recovery” of a rocket.
Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokesperson, praised the achievement as “a major leap toward reusable launch capabilities.”
Why Catching a Booster Matters
The cost of rocketing is significantly reduced when a booster stage can be reused. SpaceX pioneered this concept in 2015 with its first booster landing, and it has since accomplished hundreds of successful landings. In 2024, they took it further by catching a 120-meter Starship booster with their launch tower’s "chopstick" arms. Blue Origin achieved its first landing last November, but its New Glenn rocket exploded on the pad in May.
China’s Long March-10B can lift about 16 tonnes to low Earth orbit, while SpaceX’s Falcon 9 manages roughly 25 tonnes, and Starship is designed for over 100 tonnes. The satellite race further illustrates this disparity; China’s state-backed SpaceSail has launched around 200 satellites since 2024, while Starlink already has more than 10,000.
Elon Musk Weighs In
Even Elon Musk acknowledged China’s progress in October, stating that Chinese engineers had incorporated aspects of Starship into a Falcon 9 architecture, potentially "beating Falcon 9." However, he always adds the caveat: “Starship is in another league.”
Despite this, Friday’s catch marks a significant step for China, demonstrating their ability to perform the most challenging part of cost-effective spaceflight. A country capable of reusing its rockets can launch far more frequently and at a lower cost.