China makes space program breakthrough (VIDEOS)

China has successfully recovered the first stage of one of its space rockets for the first time, in a major technological milestone.

The test was conducted on Friday during the maiden flight of the two-stage Long March 10B rocket, which launched from the Hainan space center in southern China. The booster was caught by a recovery platform off the coast around six minutes after liftoff.

The technology is intended to reduce launch costs by allowing expensive equipment to be reused, serving the same purpose as systems developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Unlike the landing methods used by the Falcon 9 and Starship programs, the Chinese system uses a net structure. The design provides a wider margin for engine-control precision during the final recovery phase and helps absorb the booster’s remaining kinetic energy.

The Long March 10B is a commercially oriented addition to the family of rockets that is being developed for China’s lunar program and Tiangong space station missions.

Its first stage is powered by seven YF-100K engines using refined kerosene and liquid oxygen, while the upper stage uses a methane-liquid oxygen engine. The rocket can carry up to 16 tons into low-Earth orbit and delivered a satellite during its maiden flight.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation hailed the test as a major technological breakthrough that could help accelerate the country’s space exploration program. The company said the recovered first stage will undergo extensive testing to assess its condition before it is prepared for a second launch.