China lands reusable rocket for first time, state media says

China has successfully landed a reusable rocket for the first time in a major breakthrough for its space programme, according to state media.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said the Long March 10B rocket lifted off from Hainan in southern China at 12:15 local time (04:15 GMT) on Friday.

About six minutes after separating from the rocket’s upper stage, its booster returned to Earth vertically and was recovered on a floating platform. This marks the first successful vertical landing of a Chinese reusable booster.

The achievement signals that China may be able to challenge America’s dominance in reusable rockets, after companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Blue Origin have been able to achieve similar landings.

Traditionally, rocket segments are discarded during ascent, making launches expensive. By reusing boosters – typically the most valuable part of a rocket – the cost of satellite launches can be significantly lowered.

SpaceX first landed a reusable Falcon 9 in December 2015, and Blue Origin’s New Glenn followed in November 2025. The Falcon 9 now launches about 150 times a year with boosters that can be reused dozens of times.

China’s first attempt at reusable rocket recovery was in February with the Long March 10A, which completed a controlled descent and splashed down next to a recovery platform.

The Long March 10B, able to carry at least 16 metric tons to low‑Earth orbit, has been compared to SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Unlike the Falcon 9, the Long March 10B does not autonomously land on a ground pad or drone ship. Instead, “landing hooks” on the rocket catch a net attached to a floating platform.

Shares in Chinese space firms rose following the news, with China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications each rising 10%, the daily limit allowed by the country’s financial market regulations.