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China Retrieves Long March 10B Booster, Joins US Reuse Club

7/12/2026

48 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

China recovered a Long March 10B booster with a sea-borne net on July 10, 2026, joining the United States as the only nations to achieve this.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said the net reduces vehicle mass and widens the capture window, increasing payload capacity.
Shares of China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications rose, while officials aim to refurbish and reuse the booster before the end of 2026 for lunar missions.

History

Historical Context

SpaceX began testing Falcon 9 first-stage recovery in 2013, achieving its first ground landing in December 2015. On 8 April 2016 the B1021 booster landed vertically on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You after delivering the CRS-8 cargo for NASA, marking the program’s first sea recovery. That milestone enabled booster reuse—five of eight 2016 flights were recovered—prompting other nations to pursue similar sea-based methods.

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Story summary

China recovered a Long March 10B booster with a sea-borne net on July 10, 2026, joining the United States as the only nations to achieve this.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said the net reduces vehicle mass and widens the capture window, increasing payload capacity.
Shares of China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications rose, while officials aim to refurbish and reuse the booster before the end of 2026 for lunar missions.

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