In brief
China’s Long March 10B booster, launched from Hainan, landed vertically on a floating platform, marking the country’s first reusable rocket recovery. The flight demonstrates China’s growing technical competence in rocket reuse, potentially challenging U.S. leaders SpaceX and Blue Origin. The success has sparked a rally in shares of Chinese space-sector firms, underscoring investor optimism.
China has landed its first reusable rocket, the Long March 10B, marking a pivotal milestone in its space programme.
The rocket lift‑off began from Hainan, China at 12:15 local time. Roughly six minutes after separating from the upper stage, the booster descended vertically, touching down on a floating platform with a bank of landing hooks that snagged a net.
The successful return demonstrates that China can potentially rival U.S. firms SpaceX and Blue Origin in reusable launch technology, which holds the promise of cheaper satellite deployments.
Industry insiders noted that shares of companies such as China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications jumped after the launch, reflecting investor confidence.
Source: BBC News
