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TexasTowelie

(126,447 posts)
Mon Feb 16, 2026, 11:48 PM 4 hrs ago

The new space race: SpaceX vs China's Long March 10 - Break the Fake - TVP WORLD



Rockets are no longer just about getting into orbit – they're coming back!

While SpaceX has demonstrated booster recoveries using its launch tower “chopstick” system during recent Starship test flights, China is working towards similar reusability goals with its Long March 10 program.

On February 11th at Wenchang Space Launch Site, engineers tested elements of a recovery profile that included a controlled descent toward an offshore platform. State media later described the event as a “safe splashdown” in the designated area.

But in the modern space industry, the real milestone isn’t just splashdown – it’s precision landing, rapid reuse, and repeatedly.

So how close is China to matching current reusable rocket standards? And what does this test actually reveal about the global space race?
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