China Lands Reusable Rocket For First Time, Heralds New Space Race

China has successfully landed a reusable rocket for the first time, signalling a breakthrough for the country’s space programme, as reported by state‑controlled media on Friday.

The Long March 10B lifted off from the Hainan island launch site at 12:15 local time (04:15 GMT) and, six minutes after its upper‑stage separation, its booster returned to Earth vertically, landing on a floating platform equipped with a net‑capturing system.

Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9 or Blue Origin’s New Glenn, the Long March 10B does not land autonomously on a drone‑ship or ground pad. The rocket’s “landing hooks” snag a net attached to a maritime platform—a first‑of‑its‑kind recovery method.

The Long March 10B can carry up to 16 tonnes to low‑Earth orbit, comparable to the Falcon 9, but its novel recovery system could reduce the cost of each subsequent flight by reusing the most expensive part of the vehicle.

The successful landing hints that China could seriously challenge U.S. dominance in reusable launch services, driven by SpaceX’s frequent Falcon 9 landings and Blue Origin’s New Glenn.

Shares in Chinese aerospace firms rose sharply—China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications each climbed 10 %—reflecting market optimism about the new capability.

Watch: China’s reusable rocket takes off and lands.