China recovered its first reusable rocket and showed a new way to do it - Ars Technica Skip to content Ars Technica home Sections Forum Subscribe Search AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Feature Reviews AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Forum Subscribe Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Pin to story Theme HyperLight Day & Night Dark System Search Sign In Sign in dialog... Sign in First of many China recovered its first reusable rocket and showed a new way to do it “Clearly, they admire the work that’s being done by SpaceX and are trying to replicate it.” Stephen Clark – Jul 10, 2026 5:41 pm | 254 China's Long March 10B booster, 16 feet (5 meters) in diameter, descends toward its recovery vessel in the South China Sea. Credit: Chinese Foreign Ministry via X China's Long March 10B booster, 16 feet (5 meters) in diameter, descends toward its recovery vessel in the South China Sea. Credit: Chinese Foreign Ministry via X Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav China’s sprawling state-owned rocket developer, maker of the country’s Long March rocket family, announced it recovered a reusable orbital-class booster for the first time Friday in the South China Sea. The milestone mission began with the liftoff of a Long March 10B rocket from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site on Hainan Island, China’s southernmost province. Powered by seven kerosene-fueled engines, the approximately 209-foot-tall (63.6-meter) rocket took off at 12:15 am EDT (04:15 UTC), or 12:15 pm local time at the seaside spaceport at Wenchang.
About 10 minutes later, the Long March 10B booster descended from space and guided itself into a four-legged frame affixed to an offshore vessel. Tensioned cables stretched over the ship in a grid pattern captured the rocket as it shut down its landing engines, leaving the smoldering booster hanging in midair. The rocket’s upper stage continued into orbit and deployed a payload known only as CX-26. Chinese officials hailed the flight as a “complete success.” A growing number “A historic day in China’s space program!” wrote Mao Ning , a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on X.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/07/china-recovered-its-first-reusable-rocket-and-showed-a-new-way-to-do-it/
About 10 minutes later, the Long March 10B booster descended from space and guided itself into a four-legged frame affixed to an offshore vessel. Tensioned cables stretched over the ship in a grid pattern captured the rocket as it shut down its landing engines, leaving the smoldering booster hanging in midair. The rocket’s upper stage continued into orbit and deployed a payload known only as CX-26. Chinese officials hailed the flight as a “complete success.” A growing number “A historic day in China’s space program!” wrote Mao Ning , a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on X.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/07/china-recovered-its-first-reusable-rocket-and-showed-a-new-way-to-do-it/