China Lands Orbital Rocket Stage in Net, Betting on Scale Over Precision

China recovered its Long March 10B's first stage using a net on a floating platform off Hainan on July 10, 2026. The method trades guidance precision for structural simplicity—unlike SpaceX's powered tail-first landings. Bloomberg noted it as China's first orbital-class sea recovery. The real test: repeat catches, fast turnaround, and cheap refurbishment to undercut launch pricing.