China recovered its first reusable rocket and showed a new way to do it

China successfully recovered the first stage of a carrier rocket during an orbital launch test, marking a major breakthrough in reusable rocket technology. The recovery used a sea-based system with hooks and a net, rather than the landing legs used by SpaceX's Falcon 9, introducing a different recovery approach that could expand the range of technologies available for future orbital missions.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-07-10