China becomes the second nation after the United States to recover a reusable rocket booster. The Long March 10B booster descended into a sea‑anchored net, a feat captured on state television. Theemption was achieved by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) using a novel hook‑net system, a first for the industry.

CALT’s net caught the booster intact after the vehicle cut power and slowed under its own thrust. The company plans to reuse the booster by the end of the year, marking a tangible move toward more frequent launches.

The net approach differs from Space X’s retractable legs and pent‑arm recovery used on Starship. A separate Beijing firm, Land Space, tried a leg system on its Zhu Que‑3 rocket, but the attempt ended даара in a fireball.

China’s recovery capability aligns with its 2030 space‑power objective. Last year, the United States conducted 193 orbital launches while China achieved 92. The new reusable system could reduce costs and increase launch cadence for the Chinese program.