China Lands Reusable Rocket for the First Time, Matching SpaceX Milestone

China has successfully landed a reusable rocket for the first time, marking a major achievement in its space program. According to a statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, the Long March-10B rocket was launched from Hainan in southern China on Friday. About six minutes after separating from the upper stage, the rocket's first-stage booster returned to Earth and was safely recovered on a floating platform in the sea. This is China's first successful controlled rocket recovery and an important step toward reusable space technology.

A Big Step for China's Space Program

Reusable rockets help reduce the cost of space missions because the most expensive part of the rocket can be used again instead of being destroyed after launch. The Long March-10B can carry at least 16 metric tons of payload into low-Earth orbit. Unlike SpaceX's Falcon 9, which lands on a ground pad or drone ship, China's rocket uses landing hooks that catch a net fixed to a floating recovery platform.

• First successful reusable rocket landing by China.
• Booster recovered safely on a sea-based platform.
• The rocket can carry at least 16 metric tons to low-Earth orbit.

China Moves Closer to Global Space Competition

The successful landing is seen as a major step for China as it works to compete with American companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. SpaceX first landed a reusable Falcon 9 rocket in 2015, while Blue Origin achieved a similar milestone with New Glenn in 2025. China had tested reusable rocket recovery earlier this year with the Long March-10A, but that mission only completed a controlled splashdown near a recovery platform.

• China aims to lower the cost of future space missions.
• Reusable rockets can be launched multiple times.
• The success could strengthen China's position in the global space industry.

Following the successful mission, shares of Chinese space companies increased, with China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications each rising by 10%, the maximum daily increase allowed in China's stock market. Experts believe this achievement could help China expand its satellite launches and future space exploration missions while increasing competition in the global space industry.