China Conducts First Net Recovery of Rocket Stage
China's Changzheng-10B rocket successfully completed a maritime recovery using a novel net-capture system, marking a global first for booster retrieval. This achievement advances reusable rocket technology.
China's space program has achieved a significant milestone with the successful recovery of the first stage of its Changzheng-10B carrier rocket from the sea using a newly developed net-capture system. The launch and recovery operation took place on July 10, 2026, from the Hainan commercial space launch site.
This marks the first time China has successfully executed a controlled return and recovery of a carrier rocket's first stage. The technique involves using a large safety net to capture the descending rocket body at sea. The specialized recovery vessel "Linghangzhe," a 25,000-ton dynamically positioned platform, deployed its net system for the precise capture.
The Changzheng-10B rocket measures 63.6 meters in length. Its first stage utilizes a mature liquid oxygen-kerosene engine, while the second stage employs a newly developed liquid oxygen-methane engine. The rocket has a payload capacity of up to 16 tons to low Earth orbit. This net-capture method, which eliminates the need for landing legs, is an indigenous Chinese development for reusable launch vehicles.
The successful recovery represents a key advancement in the pursuit of reusable rocket technology, which is expected to significantly reduce the cost of space missions. Official footage of the entire recovery process has been released, highlighting the operation's historical importance.