Disaster! China's Method to Catch Rocket without Legs even Crazier than SpaceX, But…

Disaster! China's Method to Catch Rocket without Legs even Crazier than SpaceX, But…
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00:00: Intro
00:33: China’s tethered catching system
05:35: Its problems and SpaceX’s system
11:04: Conclusion
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Disaster! China's Method to Catch Rocket without Legs even Crazier than SpaceX, But…
Catching rockets mid-return has become the signature vision of SpaceX’s Starship. Inspired by that promise, several Chinese teams are developing similar systems, including a more ambitious “tethered catching” concept they say could redefine reusability.
But the approach brings major technical and operational hurdles.
Today on Great SpaceX, we break down the pros, the risks, and why it still may not outmatch SpaceX.
Disaster! China's Method to Catch Rocket without Legs even Crazier than SpaceX, But…
Rockets represent immense mass, velocity, and structural rigidity. A tether, by contrast, is typically associated with securing cargo or stabilizing equipment. It is not the first tool that comes to mind when imagining the interception of a multi ton booster descending from the edge of space.
Yet this is the direction Chinese engineers are pursuing. They are developing a reusable offshore landing platform known as Navigator. The structure resembles a tall steel frame supported by four legs, with horizontal beams connecting the vertical columns. Unlike a fixed ground installation, Navigator is designed to stand on a mobile sea barge, allowing it to reposition according to mission requirements and flight trajectories.
At the center of the concept is the tether capture mechanism. Publicly released images do not reveal the full configuration, but recent test footage shows a booster suspended by cables, likely to evaluate load bearing capacity and structural stability. These early demonstrations appear focused on understanding how the tether system behaves under significant weight and dynamic stress.
Disaster! China's Method to Catch Rocket without Legs even Crazier than SpaceX, But…
Simulation videos provide further insight into how the system is intended to function. One conceptual model shows what appears to be a network of interwoven cables. Closer inspection suggests a more refined arrangement: a continuous tether routed through pulley pins mounted along the horizontal beams, with anchor points at the four vertical columns. All segments converge at a master actuation point.
When activated, the master mechanism retracts the cable in a coordinated motion. The pulleys rotate, the available capture space narrows, and the descending booster is intercepted at a defined contact zone. The rocket is then restrained by tension distributed throughout the cable network.
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