China Recovers Rocket First Stage Successfully for First Time
China successfully achieved a controlled recovery of a launch vehicle's first stage at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. Reuse of the rocket is projected to occur before year-end.
China's space industry achieved a significant milestone on Thursday, July 10, 2026, with the successful controlled recovery of the first stage of the Long March 10B carrier rocket. Launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, the rocket successfully delivered its payload to the intended orbit.
Approximately two minutes after separation, the first stage returned vertically and was successfully captured by a net-based system on a recovery platform at sea. This marks the first time globally that a carrier rocket's first stage has been recovered using this method, demonstrating China's advanced capabilities in reusable rocket technology. The Long March 10B is now China's first carrier rocket designed for reuse with a successfully recovered first stage.
The rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, is a large, tandem-stage liquid-propellant carrier rocket. It reportedly uses liquid oxygen and kerosene for its core first stage and liquid oxygen and methane for its core second stage. The vehicle has an estimated lift-off thrust of approximately 890 tons and a lift-off weight of about 760 tons. In its reusable configuration, it is designed to deliver 16 tons to low Earth orbit, making it suitable for deploying satellite internet constellations and launching large commercial satellites. The reusable first stage is expected to significantly reduce launch costs.
This successful recovery builds upon previous validation flights, including a low-altitude demonstration where a Long March 10 series rocket safely splashed down at sea. The mission's success validated key technologies, including structural design, engine performance, and its net capture system. The development team plans to continue optimizing the rocket's performance and advancing its reusability technology. The first stage is anticipated to be reused in a flight before the end of this year, which would further enhance China's access to space.