China is stepping up its game in both artificial intelligence and space exploration, making it clear that the global space race is heating up. Following the success of Elon Musk’s SpaceX with a record-setting initial public offering, China has recorded a significant milestone by launching and landing the first-stage booster of its Long March-10B reusable rocket.
This achievement is historic for China, marking the first time the country has successfully returned a reusable orbital rocket to Earth. With this launch, China’s state-run Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation joins an elite group, becoming one of only three organizations in history—alongside SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin—to achieve the successful landing of an orbital rocket booster.
### A Breakthrough in Rocket Recovery
According to the Beijing Evening News, the Long March rocket’s first stage performed a clean recovery by landing on a sea barge just six minutes after takeoff. This landing was unique, as the booster was captured mid-air by a specialized net, making it the first successful net-based recovery of a rocket in the world.
“China’s Long March 10B carrier rocket lifted off from Hainan at 12:15 PM on July 10. About six minutes after the rocket stages separated, the first stage made a vertical landing and was recovered by an offshore platform. This is a significant step towards controlled recovery of launch vehicles,” reported the tabloid.
### China’s New Status in Space
With this successful mission, China has entered an arena that American billionaires have dominated for years. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, set the bar high by landing its first booster back in 2015. Since then, the company has successfully recovered its Falcon 9 rocket multiple times. In a surprising twist, SpaceX even caught its massive Starship Super Heavy booster out of the sky using giant mechanical arms as recently as 2024.
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin also joined this exclusive club last November when its New Glenn rocket successfully landed on an ocean platform. However, the company has faced challenges, including an explosion on its launchpad earlier this year.
China’s recent accomplishment highlights its growing capabilities in the space sector, signaling that the competition in space is not just between individuals or companies, but a race for national prestige as well.
