China Recovers Orbital Rocket Booster at Sea

China recovered a Long March orbital rocket booster on a seagoing vessel after Friday’s launch, becoming the second country to complete a controlled ocean recovery. The demonstration shows that the state-owned space company is advancing toward repeated booster reuse, a capability that has driven down launch costs for other operators.

Instead of landing legs, the Chinese system uses netting strung across a large frame on the recovery ship to catch the descending rocket. The company stated it plans to attempt reuse of the booster, which can carry about as much payload as a Falcon 9, by the end of the year. Successful reuse will require reliable engine restarts and guidance systems able to survive atmospheric reentry.

SpaceX currently leads in launch cadence with its reusable Falcon 9 fleet, which supports its Starlink network and government contracts. A reusable Chinese booster could enable lower-cost satellite communications and data services that compete with Starlink in markets including Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

The recovery comes days after investigative reports described cooperation between China and Russia on methods to interfere with Starlink operations in Ukraine.

Origin recovered and reused a booster in 2025 before a May explosion delayed further flights. Rocket Lab continues development of its Neutron vehicle with a planned reusable booster, while Stoke Space aims to test a fully reusable rocket this year.