Rocket Lab has taken a big step towards making a re-usable rocket. The company captured the first stage mid-air with a helicopter for the first time after it deployed 34 satellites. To ensure that the first stage will survive its re-entry into the atmosphere, Rocket Lab re-oriented it into the ideal angle that would give it the best chances to survive. The main parachute opened up in the final part of the descent after a drogue parachute was deployed to increase drag.
The company used a hook on a cable to capture the booster's parachute line after sending a helicopter to rendezvous with the returning stage. While the catch was a success, the pilots of the helicopter weren't happy with the way the booster was hanging below them and decided to drop it into the ocean. It was loaded onto a vessel and taken back to Rocket Lab for re-flight assessment.
The test gave the helicopter pilot different load characteristics than before, and will provide important information for future helicopter captures. Since salt water could damage the booster, the goal is to grab it mid-air and bring it back to land. If the company proves that it can reuse its boosters, it can ramp up launch frequencies and reduce mission costs for small satellites.
Peter Beck is the CEO of Rocket Lab.
"Bringing a rocket back from space and catching it with a helicopter is something of a supersonic ballet. A tremendous number of factors have to align and many systems have to work together flawlessly, so I am incredibly proud of the stellar efforts of our Recovery Team and all of our engineers who made this mission and our first catch a success. From here we’ll assess the stage and determine what changes we might want to make to the system and procedures for the next helicopter catch and eventual re-flight."
It is not clear if the company will attempt another helicopter recovery in May.
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