alt.hn

2/12/2026 at 11:20:42 AM

Long March-10 in-flight abort and rocket landing demostration [video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1huIM_ip6bQ

by u1hcw9nx

2/12/2026 at 3:21:10 PM

What do you think is the most complex thing here, genuinely? Masten Space's Xombie first flew in 2009 and has done 227 launches and landings. These are of course small rockets with modest performance. So maybe the hard part is the scale or the mass optimization to a real orbital rocket's first stage. Again, not saying it's easy, just trying to get insightful comments on what are the hard parts more specifically.

by Gravityloss

2/12/2026 at 7:46:18 PM

Consistent and sufficient funding that won't evaporate when you inevitably fail the first few times. Investors and political officials get a bit upset when the billion dollar prototype they funded crashes and burns two or three times in a row. But that's kind of what it takes.

by foxyv

2/12/2026 at 9:03:54 PM

So, they want to go to the moon... If that happens, I wonder what the moon landing deniers will do? Change their views, or admit that China went to the moon first?

by M95D

2/12/2026 at 12:10:04 PM

It's cool to see recoverable rocket tech continue to advance

by sheikhnbake

2/12/2026 at 12:17:42 PM

It amazes me to witness where China was scientifically and technically in 70's and 80's and where it is now.

Investing in STEM education and research paid great dividends.

by DeathArrow