China successfully tests sea-basedsuccessfully tests sea-based rocket booster recovery system
China successfully tested a sea-based recovery system for its Long March 10 rocket booster at sea on July 10, 2026. This milestone allows China to retrieve reusable rocket components from the ocean, reducing reliance on land infrastructure and advancing its capacity to compete with US rivals like SpaceX.
The test marks a critical step in China's global space race strategy as private firms accelerate their own reusable rocket development efforts.
- The Long March 10 project was officially launched in 2011 to support China's long-term goal of landing humans on the Moon.
- Sea-based recovery was first pioneered by SpaceX when it began landing Falcon 9 boosters on drone ships in the Atlantic Ocean.
- China's new IPO rule changes aim to attract private capital similar to the funding models that helped US firms like Rocket Lab scale rapidly.
