China used a giant net to land a reusable rocket. Does the idea have legs?

It’s an unconventional approach that has sparked debate over how it stacks up against America’s landing-leg system

The Chinese approach eliminates heavy landing gear, making the rocket lighter and allowing it to carry more payload into orbit, according to its developer, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).

But neither the CALT nor state media have disclosed the cost of building and operating the vessel used to recover the rocket booster.