**China Achieves Milestone with First Successful Landing of Reusable Rocket**
In a significant advancement for its space program, China has successfully landed a reusable rocket for the first time, according to reports from state media. The successful landing of the Long March 10B rocket marks a pivotal moment in China's efforts to enhance its capabilities in space exploration and satellite deployment.
The rocket lifted off from Hainan, located in southern China, at 12:15 local time (04:15 GMT) on Friday. Approximately six minutes after its ascent, the booster of the Long March 10B separated from the upper stage and made a vertical return to Earth, landing on a floating platform. This achievement positions China as a potential competitor to the United States in the field of reusable rocket technology, which has been dominated by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Reusable rockets are designed to be flown multiple times, which significantly reduces the cost of launching payloads into space. Traditionally, rockets are considered expendable, with various components discarded and destroyed during their ascent. By successfully landing and reusing boosters, China aims to lower the expenses associated with satellite launches and space missions.
The Long March 10B rocket is capable of carrying a payload of at least 16 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, making it comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. However, the two rockets differ in their landing mechanisms. While the Falcon 9 autonomously lands on ground pads or drone ships, the Long March 10B utilizes "landing hooks" that catch a net attached to the floating platform for recovery.
China's journey into reusable rocket technology began with its first attempt in February, when a Long March 10A rocket completed a controlled descent and splashed down next to a recovery platform. The successful landing of the Long March 10B represents a significant improvement and a step forward in China's aerospace capabilities.
The news of the successful landing has had an immediate impact on the stock market, with shares in Chinese space companies experiencing notable increases. Both China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications saw their stock prices rise by 10%, which is the maximum allowed under the country's financial market regulations.
As China continues to develop its space program, the successful landing of the Long March 10B could pave the way for more ambitious projects in the future. The ability to reuse rockets not only enhances the efficiency of space missions but also positions China as a serious player in the global space race.
This achievement follows the successful landings of reusable rockets by SpaceX, which first accomplished this feat in December 2015 with its Falcon 9 rocket. Since then, SpaceX has conducted numerous launches, with the Falcon 9 being reused multiple times. Blue Origin, founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, has also made strides in reusable rocket technology, launching its New Glenn rocket in November 2025.
With the successful landing of the Long March 10B, China is poised to further its ambitions in space exploration and satellite deployment, potentially challenging the established dominance of American companies in the field. As the global landscape of space technology continues to evolve, the implications of this breakthrough may resonate well beyond China's borders.