China achieves first-ever controlled rocket booster recovery

Updated: 10/07/2026 - 18:02 GMT+2

China successfully recaptured the first stage of a rocket after a launch on Friday in a breakthrough for the country's space program, state media said.

The first stage of a Long March-10B rocket separated from the second stage after liftoff and returned to a platform in the sea.

China has successfully launched its Long March-10B carrier rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The mission marked the country's first controlled recovery of a rocket's first-stage booster, which landed on a seaborne platform off the coast of Hainan. Chinese authorities say the achievement is a step forward in developing reusable launch technology for future space missions.