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Reusable rockets cement US lead in space race
Reusable rocket technology, pioneered by SpaceX, has lowered launch costs, putting the US ahead of China in the global space race. Despite China's Long March 10B success, the US conducted 55 percent of launches in 2025.
High costs, once the biggest barrier to space access, are becoming a thing of the past thanks to reusable rockets. This technological revolution is fundamentally reshaping the balance among global space powers, especially the United States. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket kicked off the process with its first successful vertical landing in 2015.
Launch costs, which could reach $160 million for traditional rockets, have dropped to approximately $67 million thanks to the reusable first stage of the Falcon 9. The cost of sending payloads into orbit has fallen from $10,000 per kilogram to $2,500. According to NASA data, this has led to savings of over $500 million on Crew Dragon missions.
US surpasses China in launch numbers
The cost advantage and rapid turnaround time have led to an explosion in launch frequency. In 2025, 325 launches were conducted worldwide, placing 4,434 satellites into orbit. Compared to the previous year, the number of satellites increased by 65 percent.
In the global launch market, SpaceX's share rose from 22 percent in 2020 to 50 percent by the end of 2025. With this technological edge, the US overtook China in total number of launches in 2022 and has widened the gap. In 2025, the US conducted 55 percent of all launches, while China's share remained at 28 percent.
China enters the race with Long March 10B
Falling behind the US, China has accelerated its investments in reusable rockets. After a long series of tests, the first successful controlled landing and recovery capable of competing with the Falcon 9 came with the Long March 10B rocket, launched on July 10. The rocket, belonging to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan province.
Unlike the landing legs used by SpaceX, the Long March 10B was caught by a cable-net system stretched over a floating platform in the South China Sea. Experts note that this method provides greater fuel efficiency and payload capacity.
Europe and India prepare to join the race
The race for reusable rocket technology is not limited to just two countries. India's ADMIRE program aims to conduct its first vertical landing tests in 2027. The European Space Agency (ESA) plans the first vertical takeoff and landing test of its THEMIS demonstrator this year, while the joint Japan-France-Germany project CALLISTO is expected to make its maiden flight from French Guiana in 2026.
Experts emphasize that reusable rockets are democratizing access to space and paving the way for commercial satellite launches and scientific missions.
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