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China recovers Long March-10B rocket booster in reused-rocket milestone
The sea-based net-and-cable recovery method aims to make booster reuse cheaper for satellite constellations, deep-space missions, and future crewed landings.
China has achieved a reusable-rocket milestone by successfully recovering part of its Long March-10B booster during its debut flight, according to SCMP Economy. The controlled recovery makes China only the second nation to pull off an orbital-class booster return after an earlier success by SpaceX.
The report says the mission used a sea-based net-and-cable system for recovery, rather than methods associated with SpaceX. Footage from state news agency Xinhua showed the falling booster being caught mid-air by the moving net at sea.
SCMP Economy links booster reuse to lower launch costs, which it says could help make larger satellite constellation deployments, deep-space exploration, and crewed moon landings financially viable.
The development also comes as optimism grows for the satellite sector, driven by rising commercial demand for internet constellations, the outlet adds.