AI Generated Image
China retrieves booster in reusable rocket breakthrough
DW.com • • general
Key Points:
- China successfully recovered the booster of its Long March 10B orbital-class rocket for the first time, marking a significant milestone in its reusable launch system development.
- The booster was captured by a net-based retrieval system on an offshore platform, differing from the autonomous leg landings used by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
- This net capture method simplifies the rocket's structure, reduces weight, and may increase payload capacity, according to experts from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
- The Long March 10B is part of China's broader plan to develop reusable rockets to lower launch costs and support commercial satellite networks, with potential applications in planned crewed lunar missions before 2030.
- The successful recovery boosted shares in Chinese aerospace companies, and the Long March 10B's payload capacity of at least 16 metric tons is comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9, which has been reusing boosters since 2015.
