China's first sea-based rocket net recovery platform delivered

China's first seaborne platform for rocket recovery with a net system was delivered on Sunday, providing a vital piece of infrastructure for the country's reusable rocket launches.

The platform, called "Linghangzhe" or Pathfinder, has been certified by the China Classification Society, making it the first sea-based rocket recovery platform in the country to earn the necessary class and statutory certifications.

This follows the launch of the landing vessel “Xingjiguihang" (Stellar Return) by Chinese commercial rocket company i-Space in August. With a recovery deck measuring over 40 to 60 meters, the vessel is designed to recover the first stage of i-Space's reusable liquid oxygen-methane rocket SQX-3, according to the company.

In the same month, China's new-generation manned launch vehicle, the Long March-10, completed its first static fire test. The model includes two configurations – the Long March-10 and the Long March-10A, with the latter being a reusable, two-stage rocket.

Chinese rocket manufacturers are racing to advance the development of reusable vehicles. In June, another commercial firm, LandSpace, successfully conducted a ground ignition test for the first-stage propulsion system of its reusable Zhuque-3 rocket.

So far, several Chinese rocket companies have successfully completed essential vertical takeoff and landing tests.