China recovers rocket booster in first sea-based net catch

China successfully recovered a Long March rocket booster using a net-based catch system deployed from a ship in the Yellow Sea, marking the first sea-based recovery of this kind. The development demonstrates progress in reusable rocket technology and cost reduction for launch operations. If you're selling ground support, avionics, or precision landing systems for rockets, China just proved net-catch recovery works at scale—and your American competitors now have to match it or lose customers. The cost of launching just dropped for everyone willing to buy Chinese.