One booster has now flown 37 times, launch costs sit near $2,600/kg against the Shuttle's $54,500, and SpaceX flew 165 orbital missions in 2025 — more than the rest of the world combined. In 2026 Blue Origin and China finally joined the reuse club, and Starship still has not been caught.
CASC's Long March 10B, launched from Hainan, recovered its first-stage booster at sea about six minutes after stage separation — caught by a net-and-hook system rather than landing on legs, China's first controlled recovery of an orbital launch vehicle and the first net-based one anywhere. Only SpaceX (routinely) and Blue Origin (since Nov 2025) had landed orbital-class boosters.
Rocket Lab agreed to acquire Iridium Communications for ~$8B enterprise value ($54.00/share, cash-and-stock) — vertically integrating its launch and satellite manufacturing with Iridium's global LEO constellation. Closing is targeted for mid-2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.