China takes a page from SpaceX and recaptures the first stage of a rocket to reuse it
Summary
China successfully captured and recovered the first stage of its Long March-10B rocket using a net system on a platform at sea. This is the first time China has reused a rocket's first stage, following a practice already used by the American company SpaceX to reduce launch costs.Key Facts
- China recovered the first stage of a Long March-10B rocket after launch.
- The recovery used a net-capture system on a seaborne platform near Hainan Island.
- This is China's first successful recovery of a rocket's first stage.
- SpaceX, a U.S. company, has been recovering and reusing rocket boosters for several years.
- Reusing rocket stages helps lower the cost of sending things into space.
- The Long March-10B can carry up to 16,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit.
- SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket can carry up to 22,800 kilograms into low Earth orbit.
- Falcon 9 rockets are used to send astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station.
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