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China Launches Reusable Rocket, Clearing a Key Hurdle in Race With SpaceX
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- China’s space program made a significant advancement by successfully launching and recovering the first stage of its Long March 10B rocket, marking a key step toward reusable rocket technology.
- This achievement could enable Chinese satellite companies to reuse rocket parts for future missions, potentially closing the gap with SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rockets.
- SpaceX currently leads the satellite industry with over 10,000 satellites in orbit and rapid launch capabilities, thanks to its reusable rocket technology.
- Previously, Chinese satellites were launched on single-use rockets, resulting in rocket parts becoming debris, but the recent recovery method using nets on a sea platform shows a novel approach to booster retrieval.
- The Long March 10B launch took place from the Wenchang spaceport in Hainan, with the rocket’s first stage returning upright to a sea platform six minutes after separation, signaling potential progress in China’s satellite launch competitiveness.
