Long March 10Yi Successfully Completes Maiden Flight, World-First Maritime Net Recovery Technology Verified
Summary: On April 28, 2026, the Long March 10Yi (CZ-10B) rocket successfully conducted its maiden flight from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China. The mission not only achieved a successful inaugural launch but also simultaneously verified the world's first maritime net-based recovery technology for a first-stage booster, marking a major breakthrough for China's commercial aerospace industry in large-capacity reusable rockets.
Credit: Sina News
Mission Overview
The Long March 10Yi launch vehicle was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). This maiden flight mission lifted off from Launch Pad 2 at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site in Hainan. The rocket performed normally, and the payload was successfully delivered to its intended orbit, marking a complete success for the inaugural flight.
Compared to the Falcon 9, which had previously completed orbital-class recovery verification, the Long March 10Yi adopts a booster-less configuration with a 5-meter diameter. Its first stage is equipped with seven YF-100N liquid oxygen-kerosene engines, featuring a simpler design and lower operational and maintenance costs, making it more suitable for commercial operations.
World First: Maritime Net-Based Recovery Technology
The core highlight of this mission was the verification of the world's first maritime net-based recovery technology (commonly referred to as "catching the rabbit"). Unlike traditional land-based precision landing recovery, the first stage of the Long March 10Yi, upon return, uses grid fins for attitude control. After engine thrust deceleration, it is captured by a flexible net system deployed in the landing sea area.
The core advantages of this technology solution include:
- Lower landing precision requirements: Less affected by ocean waves, can be captured within a larger area
- Lower launch risk: Avoids the risk of rockets failing on land and damaging buildings or injuring people
- Higher turnaround efficiency: Reports indicate the first stage can be inspected and re-launched within 72 hours after recovery
- More reusable flights: Designed for more than 10 reuse cycles
The successful verification of this system makes China the second country after the United States to master reusable recovery technology for large-capacity launch vehicles, laying the foundation for a 30% to 50% reduction in China's commercial launch costs.
Launch Capacity and Market Prospects
The Long March 10Yi's LEO capacity in recovery configuration exceeds 16 tonnes, outperforming the early Falcon 9's 10-tonne-class performance. This rocket will serve as the primary launch vehicle for China's Qianfan Constellation (千帆星座) low Earth orbit broadband satellite constellation.
The Qianfan Constellation is China's version of Starlink, planning to deploy over 13,000 low-orbit broadband satellites, with the first phase (608 satellites) scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2027. The Long March 10Yi's high capacity and low-cost characteristics will significantly accelerate the construction of this national megaproject.
Industry Chain Impact
The successful maiden flight of the Long March 10Yi holds landmark significance for China's commercial aerospace industry chain. Aerospace Engineering (603698) provides separation and reset systems as well as gas power generation systems; Juligroup (002342) developed key components for the recovery net system; Guanglian Aviation (300900) participated in structural component manufacturing; Shirui New Materials (688102) supplies copper alloy materials; Aerospace Electronics (600879) provides telemetry systems; and Jiufeng Energy (605090) supplies propellant transportation services.
As reusable rocket technology matures, China's commercial launch costs are expected to drop from the current approximately $20,000 per kilogram to below $10,000 per kilogram, significantly enhancing international competitiveness.