Foreign media: China's Long March 10B rocket has recently achieved successful recovery, becoming the first orbital-level rocket outside the United States to be fully recovered. It employs a "giant net capture" approach—during descent, the first-stage booster deploys four hooks that are caught by a large net aboard ships in the South China Sea, rather than using landing legs like those employed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
The developer, China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, stated this method eliminates the need for heavy landing structures, making the rocket lighter and increasing its payload capacity. However, official sources have not disclosed the construction and operational costs of the recovery vessel "Navigator," which measures 144 meters in length and weighs 25,000 tons. The ship is equipped with advanced systems including high-precision dynamic positioning and laser sensors.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870788041835520/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.