China achieves first successful landing of reusable rocket

China has successfully landed a reusable rocket for the first time, with the Long March 10B booster returning vertically to a floating platform.

• The Long March 10B rocket lifted off from Hainan at 12:15 local time on Friday.
• Approximately six minutes after separating from the upper stage, the booster returned vertically and was recovered on a floating platform.
• The rocket, which can carry at least 16 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, used landing hooks to catch a net attached to the platform rather than an autonomous landing.
• Shares in China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications rose by 10 percent following the landing.