China is catching up to Elon Musk’s reusable rockets

China’s state-owned CASC launched a Long March rocket and recovered its booster on a seagoing vessel, becoming the second country to demonstrate this capability. The company says it may try to reuse the booster by year-end, using a ship-based net system rather than Falcon 9-style landing legs.

If China can repeatedly reuse orbital boosters, it could sharply lower launch costs and narrow SpaceX’s lead in reusable rockets. The advance could also strengthen China’s space diplomacy by enabling cheaper launches for partner countries, even if national security rules limit direct competition with U.S. providers.