China just pulled off a major space milestone. On July 10, 2026, the new Long March 10B rocket launched from Hainan, delivered its payload to orbit, then returned its first stage for a controlled landing in the South China Sea.
The booster descended under power before hooks snagged a giant net on a recovery ship – the world's first successful marine net capture of an orbital-class rocket. No landing legs needed.
SpaceX still leads by a decade with proven Falcon 9 reflights and Starship pushing boundaries, but China is closing in fast and plans to reuse the stage soon. Europe's reusable efforts, like the Themis and Callisto programs, remain stuck far behind. The gap in ambition is glaring.
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