China completes first recovery of spacecraft return capsule

The return capsule of China's new-generation Mengzhou crewed spaceship safely splashes down in the predetermined sea area during a flight test, Feb. 11, 2026. A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday. (Photo by Wang Heng/Xinhua)

WENCHANG, Hainan, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday successfully conducted its first maritime search and retrieval of a crewed spacecraft's return capsule, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The Mengzhou (dream vessel) spacecraft, China's new-generation spaceship for crewed mission, successfully conducted a maximum dynamic pressure abort test and achieved a safe splashdown on the sea. It was carried out during a low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test of the Long March-10 carrier rocket.

At 12:20 p.m. (Beijing Time), the maritime search and rescue team completed the recovery of the return capsule. The success offered crucial experience for subsequent space station operation and crewed lunar landing, the agency said.

The spacecraft Mengzhou is designed mainly for China's crewed lunar exploration and can also be used for space station operation. Its return capsule is capable of multiple reuses.

The first stage of the Long March-10 carrier rocket safely splashes down in the predetermined sea area in a controlled manner as planned, Feb. 11, 2026. A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday. (Photo by Han Qingce/Xinhua)

The first stage of the Long March-10 carrier rocket safely splashes down in the predetermined sea area in a controlled manner as planned, Feb. 11, 2026. A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday. (Photo by Han Qingce/Xinhua)

The first stage of the Long March-10 carrier rocket safely splashes down in the predetermined sea area in a controlled manner as planned, Feb. 11, 2026. A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday. (Photo by Han Qingce/Xinhua)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Minggang)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Photo by Wang Heng/Xinhua)