China Reusable Rocket Launch Costs Drop by Two-Thirds: CZ-10B Net Recovery Success Marks Reusable Rocket Era as Space Economy Reaches Trillion-Yuan Inflection Point

China recovered a CZ-10B first stage on July 10, 2026 using a net-capture system aboard the Navigator vessel, marking its first successful reusable-rocket recovery.

The milestone could cut launch costs by 60% to 70%, reshaping competition in China’s space launch market.

Commercial launch firms including CAS Space, LandSpace, iSpace, Deep Blue Aerospace, Galaxy Energy, and Orienspace are also pushing reusable rocket tests and recovery goals.

Broader adoption of reuse could accelerate growth in satellites, space computing, manufacturing, and tourism, expanding the space economy.