China has successfully completed its first controlled recovery of a launch vehicle's first-stage booster, marking a major milestone in the country's reusable rocket programme. The test was carried out during the launch of the Long March-10B reusable rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, Xinhua reported.
During its maiden flight, the rocket successfully delivered its payload into the designated orbit. After stage separation, the first-stage booster returned to Earth and was successfully recovered on a sea-based platform using a net capture system.
Chinese engineers described the successful recovery as an important step forward in the development of reusable launch vehicle technology.
The Long March-10B is a reusable, liquid-fuel commercial rocket measuring about 63 metres in length. In its reusable configuration, it is capable of delivering up to 16 tonnes of payload into low Earth orbit.
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