New Zealand-based space startup Rocket Lab pulled off an amazing stunt on Tuesday: it caught the first stage of its Electron rocket with a helicopter as it made its parachute-aided descent after launching into space.
The amazing stunt was caught from many angles, including a first-person view from inside the helicopter. Peter Beck shared a video on social media that showed the two pilots approaching the orange and white parachute, with the 55 foot rocket motionlessly floating below them.
It is the first time a rocket stage has been caught by a helicopter and it marks a new way of recovering rocket parts.
Not everything went according to plan. The pilots decided to release the rocket after they noticed that the load characteristics were different.
The rocket stage was fished out of the ocean. The 34 satellites that were in the rocket's cargo successfully made it to their destinations.
Beck said that the recovery team can't begin to explain how hard the catch was.
The team wants to collect all the data and try again.
Beck said in a statement that they will assess the stage and determine what changes they want to make to the system and procedures for the next helicopter catch.
The first time a helicopter captures a booster in mid-air, it's with Rocket Lab.
This startup is catching a rocket with a helicopter.
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