China bets on methalox Long March 10C as commercial workhorse after booster recovery

China confirmed the methalox Long March 10C as its commercial workhorse after the first orbital booster recovery of Long March 10B, with the 10C configured as all-methalox and powered by YF‑219 engines. The 10B will continue as a testbed to advance reuse and data collection for China’s upscaled launch programs, while CALT and its partners push toward broader commercial launches, human spaceflight and crewed lunar missions, supported by expanded launch infrastructure and investment from SAST and other players to industrialize reusable launch vehicles.