On July 10th, 2026, after the Long March 10B carrier rocket lifted off from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center, its first stage was safely caught by a giant net over the southern waters of China. This mission marked China's first successful controlled recovery of a carrier rocket's first stage, and the world's first-ever net-based recoveryat sea.

Behind this historic breakthrough, China's aerospace sector did not follow overseas approaches such as "vertical landing" or "robotic arm capture," but instead developed a distinctive "net-based recovery" approach. The globally watched "China's solution" is deeply stamped with the robust capabilities of "Guangdong design" and "Guangdong manufacturing".

The rocket recovery tower stands more than 60 meters high and over 50 meters wide. UnderSeaState 5 conditions, waves measuring three to four meters high pound the vessel, subjecting the tower structure to enormous acceleration. Zhang Liping, deputy chief engineer of CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. and chief designer of the steel structure for the net-based recovery system, proposed a solution of installing tension cables at the top of the tower and anchoring them back to the vessel, avoiding the range of motion caused by the rocket's swaying. The "inclined cable-stayed" design not only solved the challenge posed by structural limits, but also became the core innovation behind the world's first cable-supported giant steel frame structure system.

The Guangzhou Shipyard International Co., Ltd. undertook the conversion project of the sea-based recovery platform "Linghangzhe", or Pathfinder. During the reconstruction process, the project team overcame challenges including summer heat in the shipyard and an extremely tight construction schedule. The net-based recovery system features highly concentrated loads, requiring millimeter-level precision for the modification of the platform's foundation. The "Linghangzhe" is equipped with a fully domestically developed dynamic positioning system and a real-time monitoring and control system for the vessel and rocket. Its core equipment has achieved 100% domestic production.

Source:PEARL

在海上“兜”住火箭！“广东制造”托举大国重器

2026年7月10日，长征十号乙运载火箭在海南商业航天发射场升空后，其一子级在南部海域被一张巨型大网稳稳“兜”住。这是我国首次成功实施运载火箭一子级可控回收，也是全球首次实现海上网系回收。

在这场历史性突破的背后，中国航天没有参照国外的“垂直着陆”或“机械臂夹取”，走出了一条独具特色的“网系回收”路线。而这套世界瞩目的“中国方案”上，深深烙印着“广东设计”与“广东制造”的硬核实力。

火箭回收塔架高达60多米、宽50多米。在5级海况下，三四米高的海浪冲击船体，塔架要承受极大的加速度。而中交四航院副总工程师、网系回收系统钢结构研究设计负责人张立平想到的方案是在塔架顶部张拉拉索，避开箭体的晃动范围，拉到船上。这个“斜拉索”方案，不仅解决了超限难题，还成为了全球首创的索撑巨型钢框架结构体系的核心巧思。

承担海上回收平台“领航者”号改建任务的，是位于广州的中船广船国际。在改建过程中，项目团队克服了夏季船坞高温、工期极度紧张等困难。网系回收系统的载荷高度集中，基座改建精度要求达到毫米级。“领航者”号全面搭载了全国产化动力定位系统和船箭实时测控系统，核心设备实现100%国产化。

文｜记者 许敏 实习生 邓颂妤 
图｜中国航天科技集团
翻译｜魏薇
英文审校｜曾敏