Long March rocket technology reached a major milestone after China successfully tested an experimental system that recovered an orbital-class rocket booster using a net attached to a sea platform.

The Long March 10B rocket lifted off from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site in southern China at 12:15pm local time on Friday.

About six minutes after the booster separated from the upper stage, it returned vertically and landed safely in a recovery net mounted on an offshore platform, according to Chinese state media.

The mission also placed a satellite into its planned orbit before completing the recovery test.

The successful operation marks China’s first recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster and moves the country’s space programme closer to developing fully reusable launch vehicles.

The achievement also boosted investor confidence, with shares of several Chinese aerospace companies, including China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications, reaching their daily trading limits.

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The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) developed the Long March 10B for commercial space missions. The rocket can carry at least 16 metric tonnes into low-Earth orbit.

Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which lands vertically on deployable legs aboard a landing pad or drone ship, the Long March 10B uses four landing hooks to attach itself to a large recovery net positioned on a sea platform.

CALT expert Chen Muye said the net-based recovery system reduces rocket weight, increases payload capacity and provides greater flexibility during landing by allowing a wider capture area.

China has spent nearly a decade developing reusable rocket technology through a series of hover tests and booster recovery experiments.

The country views reusable rockets as essential for lowering launch costs and supporting its rapidly expanding commercial satellite programmes.

Private Chinese aerospace companies have also accelerated development of reusable launch systems as global competition intensifies.

Earlier recovery attempts by private company LandSpace and the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation failed to complete the final landing and booster recovery stage.

The Long March 10 family also plays a key role in China’s plan to send astronauts to the Moon before 2030, with engineers using the programme to test technologies for future lunar missions.

Chinese state television said engineers plan to reuse the recovered Long March 10B booster in another launch before the end of this year.