China has successfully completed its first controlled recovery of the initial stage of a rocket launch vehicle, simultaneously validating the world’s first “at-sea net-based recovery” technology.
At 12:15 PM today, a Long March 10B carrier rocket was launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. About six minutes after separation between the first and second stages, the first stage returned vertically and was successfully recovered on an offshore recovery platform, according to reports from China Central Television.
The rocket features a 5-meter core diameter designed for commercial space ventures. Its development was led by a major aerospace technology institute, a subsidiary of the national aerospace corporation.
Aerospace media founder Wang Long noted that China’s offshore recovery system offers advantages compared to the mainstream landing leg-based systems used by companies like SpaceX in the US. The offshore net system requires less precise landing accuracy at the end of the substage, eliminating the need for heavy landing support equipment on the rocket.
Another significant benefit of the offshore net approach, according to industry expert Xie Hongjun, chairman of a Shanghai-based space technology company, is its greater flexibility. This method allows for recovery along the flight path, conserving fuel and increasing the payload capacity.
Xie explained that this solution could lower rocket launch costs and foster the development of other reusable rocket models, contributing to the growth of manufacturing, batch processing, and scheduled operations. Once government-backed organizations succeed in rocket recovery, private companies are expected to accelerate advancements in their own rocket technologies and capabilities.