China Recovers Rocket Booster at Sea for the First Time

China has successfully completed its first-ever maritime recovery of a rocket’s first-stage booster. 

The achievement comes after a low-altitude test flight of the Long March-10 launch vehicle on Wednesday, which safely splashed down in the sea after completing its objectives.

The test was conducted alongside a maximum dynamic pressure escape flight test of the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft system.

On Friday morning, a maritime search and recovery team retrieved the rocket’s first-stage body from the sea, marking China’s first operation to recover a launch vehicle component at sea, according to CGTN.

The Long March-10 is designed to support China’s crewed lunar missions and near-Earth space station operations. Its derivative, the Long March-10A, features a reusable first-stage booster, paving the way for more sustainable space missions.