Pakistan, July 11 -- China has successfully tested a sea-based rocket booster recovery system, marking its first successful retrieval of an orbital-class rocket and a major step toward reusable launch technology. The experimental system uses a net mounted on an offshore platform to recover rocket boosters after launch. The achievement strengthens China's ambitions to compete with the United States in the commercial space sector.

The Long March 10B rocket lifted off from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site and successfully placed a satellite into its planned orbit. About six minutes after stage separation, the booster returned vertically and was captured using the offshore net-based recovery system. Chinese state media described the t...