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China Successfully Recovers Reusable Rocket Booster, Closing Gap with SpaceX

China Successfully Recovers Reusable Rocket Booster, Closing Gap with SpaceX

On July 10, 2026, China achieved a significant milestone in its space exploration efforts by successfully recovering the booster of an orbital-class rocket. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) managed to retrieve the Long March 10B booster using a net-rigged recovery ship in the South China Sea, marking the first time the nation has accomplished such a feat. The booster was part of a mission launched from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site on Hainan Island. After delivering its payload to low-Earth orbit, the booster descended and was caught by the ship Linghangzhe, which used a gridlike net to secure the booster. This achievement is part of China's ongoing efforts to develop reusable rocket technology, a field where SpaceX has been a leader for over a decade.

SpaceX and China Prepare for Multiple Rocket Launches, Expanding Satellite Networks

SpaceX and China Prepare for Multiple Rocket Launches, Expanding Satellite Networks

SpaceX and China Prepare for Multiple Rocket Launches, Expanding Satellite Networks

SpaceX Achieves Successful Launches Amidst Global Space Activity

SpaceX Achieves Successful Launches Amidst Global Space Activity

SpaceX successfully launched Starship Flight 13 from Starbase after two delays, marking a significant achievement in their testing program. The week also saw six successful orbital and suborbital launches, including two Starlink batches by SpaceX. Additionally, the Space Development Agency signed contracts for 36 new Golden Dome missile-tracking satellites. China's space activities included four missions, with a classified satellite drawing attention for its unique geostationary orbit behavior.

SpaceX's Starship Achieves First Intact Water Landing on 13th Test Flight

SpaceX's Starship Achieves First Intact Water Landing on 13th Test Flight

SpaceX's Starship Achieves First Intact Water Landing on 13th Test Flight

SpaceX's Starship Completes Successful Ocean Landing After Delivering Starlink Satellites

SpaceX's Starship Completes Successful Ocean Landing After Delivering Starlink Satellites

SpaceX's Starship megarocket has successfully completed its 13th test flight, culminating in a controlled ocean landing. This mission involved the deployment of next-generation Starlink satellites, marking a significant step in SpaceX's efforts to develop a reusable transportation system for space operations. The Starship's soft ocean splashdown provided engineers with valuable data on the spacecraft's performance during reentry and landing. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed the vehicle's intact condition post-landing, highlighting the mission's success in gathering critical telemetry data. This test flight is part of SpaceX's broader goal to support large-scale space operations, including future crewed missions and lunar exploration under NASA's Artemis program.

Chinese Rocket Struck by Lightning During Launch, Survives to Complete Mission

Chinese Rocket Struck by Lightning During Launch, Survives to Complete Mission

A Chinese Long March-3B rocket was struck by lightning shortly after its launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Despite the dramatic event, the rocket successfully completed its mission to deliver a communications relay satellite to geostationary orbit. The incident was captured in awe-inspiring footage, showing the lightning bolt striking the rocket mid-air. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation confirmed that the rocket survived the strike and deployed the satellite as planned. This event draws parallels to past incidents, such as NASA's Apollo 12 mission, which also experienced lightning strikes during launch.

SpaceX Completes 13th Starship Test Flight, Deploys Functioning Satellites

SpaceX Completes 13th Starship Test Flight, Deploys Functioning Satellites

SpaceX has successfully conducted its 13th Starship test flight, deploying functioning Starlink V3 satellites for the first time. The launch took place from SpaceX's facility in Texas, with the Starship upper stage performing a reentry and soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This mission marks a significant milestone as it tested fixes to previous issues and carried operational satellites instead of mass simulators. The test also included a relight of a Raptor engine and successful communication tests with the deployed satellites.

SpaceX Successfully Deploys Starlink V3 Satellites in Latest Starship Test Flight

SpaceX Successfully Deploys Starlink V3 Satellites in Latest Starship Test Flight

SpaceX Successfully Deploys Starlink V3 Satellites in Latest Starship Test Flight

SpaceX's Starship Achieves Softest Ocean Landing Yet, Advancing Reusable Spacecraft Development

SpaceX's Starship Achieves Softest Ocean Landing Yet, Advancing Reusable Spacecraft Development

SpaceX's Starship Achieves Softest Ocean Landing Yet, Advancing Reusable Spacecraft Development

Chinese Rocket Struck by Lightning but Successfully Delivers Satellite

Chinese Rocket Struck by Lightning but Successfully Delivers Satellite

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket was struck by lightning approximately 30 seconds after its launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province on July 23, 2026. Despite the electric discharge, the rocket maintained its trajectory and successfully placed the Tianlian-2 06 data relay satellite into its planned orbit. The incident was captured on video, showing a strong electric discharge accompanying the rocket's ascent. The China National Space Administration confirmed the successful mission, marking the 658th flight of a Long March family rocket. This event is notable as it is reportedly the first time clear images of lightning striking a Long March series rocket have been recorded, although this claim is attributed to Chinese media rather than official sources.

SpaceX Starship Achieves Key Milestones in Latest Test Flight

SpaceX Starship Achieves Key Milestones in Latest Test Flight

SpaceX Starship Achieves Key Milestones in Latest Test Flight

NASA's Artemis III Mission to Test Dual Docking in Earth Orbit, Delays Moon Landing

NASA's Artemis III Mission to Test Dual Docking in Earth Orbit, Delays Moon Landing

NASA's Artemis III mission, initially planned as the first crewed lunar landing under the Artemis program, has been restructured to focus on a complex dual docking operation in low Earth orbit. Scheduled for late 2027, the mission will involve four astronauts aboard an Orion capsule docking with test versions of SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon landers. This decision follows a February 2026 program announcement that shifted the mission's focus from a lunar landing to a systems integration flight. The change aims to mitigate risks associated with unproven docking procedures in lunar orbit. The first crewed Moon landing is now deferred to Artemis IV, targeted for no earlier than 2028. The mission will test the interoperability of different spacecraft systems and software control regimes, a technically unprecedented challenge in crewed spaceflight.