BEIJING (AP) — China’s space program reached a historic milestone Friday when it successfully recaptured the first stage of a rocket following launch, according to state media reports.
After liftoff, the first stage of a Long March-10B rocket detached from the second stage and made its way back to a platform positioned in the sea, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
This marks the first time China has ever managed to recover a rocket’s first stage booster. The American company SpaceX has been performing similar recoveries for years as a way to reduce the cost of launches — by bringing back and reusing the booster section that helps propel the rocket’s cargo into space.
The Long March rocket lifted off from Hainan Island, located off China’s southern coast and known as a popular tourist and beach destination.
According to Xinhua, when configured for reuse, the rocket is capable of carrying a payload of up to 16,000 kilograms — roughly 35,275 pounds — into low Earth orbit.
By comparison, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket can carry a maximum payload of 22,800 kilograms, or about 50,265 pounds, according to information on the SpaceX website. The Falcon rocket line is also used to transport astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station.
