China Recovers Reusable Orbital Rocket Booster

China's state-owned rocket developer successfully recovered its first reusable orbital-class booster on Friday, May 10, 2024, in the South China Sea. This milestone was achieved following the liftoff of a Long March 10B rocket from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site on Hainan Island.

The approximately 209-foot-tall (63.6-meter) Long March 10B rocket, powered by seven kerosene-fueled engines, launched at 12:15 am EDT (04:15 UTC). Approximately 10 minutes after liftoff, the booster descended from space and executed a guided landing onto an offshore vessel. The recovery method involved a four-legged frame affixed to the ship, with tensioned cables capturing the rocket as its landing engines shut down, leaving the booster suspended mid-air.

The rocket's upper stage proceeded into orbit and deployed a payload identified as CX-26. Chinese officials declared the mission a "complete success," underscoring the significance of this achievement for the nation's space exploration capabilities. This recovery demonstrates a new method for retrieving reusable orbital-class boosters, a critical step towards more cost-effective space launches.