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- Source: inbox/archive/2026-02-11-china-long-march-10-sea-landing.md - Domain: space-development - Extracted by: headless extraction cron (worker 2) Pentagon-Agent: Astra <HEADLESS>
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| type | entity_type | name | domain | status | tracked_by | created | key_metrics | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| entity | company | Long March 10 | space-development | active | astra | 2026-03-11 |
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Long March 10
China's Long March 10 is a new-generation carrier rocket program developing reusable first-stage capability. The program achieved controlled first-stage sea landing on February 11, 2026, with the reusable variant (Long March 10B) scheduled for first test flight April 5, 2026. The recovery system uses a novel tethered wire approach where hooks catch tensioned cables, supported by the dedicated 25,000-ton recovery ship "Ling Hang Zhe."
Timeline
- 2026-02-11 — First stage completed controlled sea landing in predetermined area during low-altitude demonstration flight
- 2026-02-11 — Simultaneous test of Mengzhou crewed spaceship maximum dynamic pressure abort
- 2026-02-05 — Recovery ship "Ling Hang Zhe" observed leaving shipyard for sea trials with recovery gantry and cable system installed
- 2026-04-05 — Long March 10B reusable variant first test flight scheduled from Wenchang Space Launch Site
Relationship to KB
- Challenges China is the only credible peer competitor in space with comprehensive capabilities and state-directed acceleration closing the reusability gap in 5-8 years — timeline compressed to ~2 years
- Demonstrates state-directed-space-programs-can-compress-technology-development-timelines-through-coordinated-industrial-policy
- Represents china-cable-net-recovery-represents-independent-innovation-trajectory-not-technology-copying
- Must prove reusability without rapid turnaround and minimal refurbishment does not reduce launch costs as the Space Shuttle proved over 30 years through operational performance