Helicopters can catch rockets in the air: an aerospace company did it

Beijing time, May 3 news, the US small satellite launch company Rocket Lab (Rocket Lab) on MondaySuccessfully used a helicopter to catch the first stage of the rocket returning to Earth in the air. However, due to the discovery of “different load characteristics”, the pilot decided to release it, and it eventually splashed down in the sea.

▲ Rocket Lab captures rockets with helicopters

After nearly three years of preparation, Rocket Lab made its first attempt Monday to use a helicopter to capture a rocket in the air. At 18:35 US Eastern Time on Monday (6:35 Beijing Time on Tuesday), Rocket Lab’s “Electron” launch vehicle was launched from New Zealand. About two and a half minutes after launch, the first and second stages of the Electron separated and returned to Earth, successfully opening the parachute as planned. Then, the helicopter waiting in the air quickly caught the first stage of the “Electronic”. However, helicopter pilots noticed “different load characteristics” that Rocket Lab had not experienced in previous tests.

Murielle Baker, a communications representative for Rocket Lab, said in a live broadcast from the launch site: “The pilot released the first stage at his discretion and it managed to splash down in the sea. It was taken by our recovery ship. Recovered, shipped back to our factory. Although the first stage is in excellent condition, we look forward to a detailed evaluation of it when it returns to the factory. The rest of the launch has continued as planned, with Rocket Lab deploying all 34 satellite.

Currently,“Electron” is a non-recoverable rocket. Rocket Lab hopes to reduce the manufacturing cost of building brand new rockets for each mission by recycling rockets. The goal is similar to that of SpaceX, which is known for its rocket recovery and reuse. Rocket Lab also claims that recycling and reusing its rockets could also help speed up its flight rhythm. Peter Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab, said: “Bringing a rocket back saves the company a lot of time, you don’t have to build a whole new rocket from scratch. So we’re obviously going to see some nice cost reductions. , but I think the most important thing for us right now is to get the rocket back on the production line.”