Key facts
- China's Long March 10B rocket successfully completed its maiden launch.
- The rocket's booster was recovered vertically on an offshore platform.
- This marks China's first successful controlled recovery of a carrier rocket's booster.
- The test aims to challenge U.S. dominance in reusable rocket technology.
China's Long March 10B rocket successfully completed its maiden launch and booster recovery using a net attached to a sea platform. The rocket lifted off from the Hainan commercial space launch site, and approximately six minutes after separation, the booster was recovered vertically. This event marks China's first successful controlled recovery of a carrier rocket's booster, signaling progress in its space program and its ambition to compete in the reusable rocket market.