Rocket Lab catches the rocket by helicopter. However, did not succeed completely.

The American space company Rocket Lab conducted its first test yesterday where they tried to catch a rocket step with a helicopter after the rocket step fell back to earth.

The Rocket Labs Electron rocket delivered 34 satellites into space and then unfolded a parachute as it fell back to earth. When the rocket stage was at an altitude of about 2000 meters, it was captured by a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter modified for the purpose. However, it seems that everything did not go exactly as planned. According to Rocket Labs CEO Peter Beck, the helicopter pilots were not happy with how the cargo hung under the helicopter and they therefore decided to drop the rocket step into the sea.

The rocket stage must later have been picked up by a ship that took home the rocket stage. Rocket Lab has a new rocket launch underway later this month, but if you will try to catch that rocket with a helicopter, there is so far no information about.

In the clip above, you can check out a summary of Rocket Lab’s rocket launch. Around 15:20 it is shown what it looked like when Rocket Lab caught the rocket stage with its helicopter.