China has achieved its first successful reusable rocket landing with the Long March 10B booster, marking a major milestone for its space programme. The vertically recovered booster landed on a floating platform after launch from Hainan. The breakthrough could help reduce space mission costs and challenge US leaders like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

China has successfully landed a reusable rocket for the first time, marking a major step forward for its space programme, state media reported. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said the Long March 10B rocket lifted off from Hainan in southern China on Friday. Around six minutes after separating from the upper stage, the booster returned vertically to Earth and was recovered on a floating platform.

The development could help China challenge the dominance of the US in reusable rocket technology, following successful recoveries by SpaceX and Blue Origin. Reusable boosters are considered the most valuable part of rockets, and their use can significantly reduce the cost of satellite launches and space exploration.

Subhead: Aiming for cheaper space missions

China’s Long March 10B has been compared with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and can carry at least 16 metric tons to low-Earth orbit. Unlike Falcon 9, it does not land autonomously on a ground pad or drone ship. Instead, "landing hooks" on the rocket catch a net attached to a floating platform, BBC reports.