China recovered the first stage of its Long March 10B rocket after launching from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site on July 10, 2026. The recovery occurred six minutes after stage separation and was achieved using a net capture system aboard the Linghang Zhe vessel. CASC confirmed the successful recovery 11 minutes after liftoff.

The Long March 10B is a two‑stage launch vehicle derived from the Long March 10A, which is intended for crewed and cargo missions. The rocket measures 63 meters in length, has a liftoff mass of 760,000 kg, and can deliver 16,000 kg to low Earth orbit in reusable configuration. Its first stage uses seven YF‑100K kerosene‑liquid oxygen engines that produce 890 tons of thrust, while the second stage employs a methane‑liquid oxygen engine. The YF‑219 methalox engine flew for the first time on this mission. An unnamed satellite was placed into orbit, a fact confirmed more than 90 minutes after launch. SpaceX and Blue Origin have previously recovered orbital boosters, making China the second nation to achieve this capability.

CASC stated that it intends to reuse the recovered stage before the end of 2026 and will continue to refine reusable rocket technology. A first orbital flight of the Long March 10A, carrying an uncrewed Mengzhou spacecraft, is expected later this year, though a specific launch date has not been announced.