HAINAN ISLAND — China successfully recovered the first stage of a Long March-10B rocket on July 10, 2026. This event marked the first time China recovered the first stage of a rocket.

The Long March-10B rocket launched from Hainan Island at 12:15 local time (04:15 GMT). The first stage of the rocket separated from the second stage approximately six minutes after liftoff. The first-stage booster subsequently returned to Earth and was recovered on a floating platform in the sea, where hooks on the rocket caught a net attached to the platform. The mission also succeeded in deploying a satellite into orbit.

The Long March-10B is designed and built by a subsidiary of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This reusable configuration can launch a payload of up to 16,000 kilograms (35,275 pounds) into low Earth orbit. The corporation stated: "This mission signifies a historic breakthrough in China's reusable rocket technology and a solid foundation for accelerating the improvement of China's space access capabilities."

China made a previous attempt at reusable rocket recovery in February 2026 with a Long March-10A rocket. That attempt completed a controlled descent and splashed down next to a recovery platform.

In comparison, SpaceX first landed a reusable Falcon 9 rocket from an orbital flight in December 2015. Blue Origin completed its first successful landing of the first stage of its New Glenn rocket in November 2025. The maximum payload of the SpaceX Falcon 9 is 22,800 kilograms (50,265 pounds).

Why It Matters

The successful recovery of a rocket's first stage represents a development in China's space program. Reusable rocket technology aims to reduce the cost and increase the frequency of space launches by recovering and reusing launch vehicle components.