Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment · 15 July 2026

China Achieved First Controlled Recovery of Reusable Long March-10B Rocket Booster

Exam-focused facts from the 15 July 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

  • China achieved its first-ever controlled recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster using the Long March 10B rocket.
  • The Long March 10B lifted off from the Hainan commercial space launch site (Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site) in southern China.
  • About six minutes after separation, the booster returned vertically and was recovered on an offshore platform using a net and landing hooks.
  • The Long March 10B is developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) and can carry at least 16 metric tons to low-Earth orbit.
  • The booster is planned to be reused for another launch by the end of 2026.
  • The Long March 10B is part of the Long March 10 family being developed for China's crewed lunar missions before 2030.

View this story in the full daily briefing

Earlier coverage selected by topic similarity to help connect developments over time.

China launches Pakistani satellite PRSC-EO3

China launched the Pakistani satellite PRSC-EO3 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi Province. The satellite was launched using a Long March-6 carrier rocket.