Wenchang: China has successfully recovered the first stage of its reusable Long March-10B rocket after its maiden launch on Friday, marking a significant breakthrough in China's reusable rocket technology. The Long March-10B carrier rocket was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province, southern China. After the first and second stages of the rocket separated, the first stage returned to Earth and was safely captured on a sea-based platform via a capture net system.
According to Thai News Agency, Hao Jinjie, a researcher from the China National Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASCIC), revealed that the Long March-10B carrier rocket was designed primarily to meet commercial market demands. This mission involved precision rocket recovery and landing the first stage on a large landing net.
The rocket has an ascent thrust of approximately 890 tons and a total mass at launch of approximately 760 tons. In its reusable configuration, this rocket can carry a payload of 16 tons to low Earth orbit. While the world's mainstream reusable rockets today opt for vertical landing using engine thrust, the Long March-10B rocket has chosen a completely different approach.
Hao Jinjie further stated that this recovery mission marks the world's first use of a net-catching system. This system utilizes a net installed on a sea-based platform to encircle and secure the recovered rocket. Both recovery methods have their advantages, but China's decision to use the net-catching system will most effectively maximize the rocket's payload capacity.