China has landed a reusable rocket booster using a giant net. The approach differs from landing-leg systems used in the United States and seeks to reduce weight for greater payload capacity.
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology said the method eliminates the need for heavy landing gear.
This design makes the rocket lighter and allows it to carry more payload into orbit.
Neither the academy nor state media have disclosed the cost of building and operating the vessel used to recover the rocket booster.