A space company briefly caught a falling rocket using a helicopter and a hook in a test described by its CEO as “something like supersonic ballet.”
The test was part of Rocket Lab’s attempts to find relatively inexpensive ways to recover rockets for multiple space missions.
After taking off to send 34 satellites into orbit at 10:50 a.m. local time (2,350 BST) in New Zealand, the California-based Electron’s four-story accelerator fell back through Earth’s atmosphere and deployed a series of parachutes to slow down. .
At high altitude above the South Pacific, off the coast of New Zealand, a helicopter hanging a long vertical cable from below was piloted by two pilots over an accelerator that had stretched a capture line from the side as it parachuted. at approximately 22 miles per hour (35 km / h).
The helicopter’s cable attached to the amplifier’s capture line seen in the company’s live broadcast, to applause and applause from Rocket Lab engineers at the company’s mission management center in Long Beach.
But the applause turned into moans when helicopter pilots were forced to release the rocket from the cable and launch it into the Pacific Ocean after noticing “different load characteristics” than were tested in previous capture tests, he said. late spokesman for Rocket Lab.
Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, said: “Returning a rocket from space and capturing it by helicopter is like supersonic ballet. A huge number of factors need to be reconciled and many systems need 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. ”
The rocket stage made a controlled spray down into the ocean after its brief capture. The on-board systems orientated the missile to minimize the damage from its impact with the water. He was then charged with recovery.
Its condition will be assessed and a decision will be made on whether to repair it for another flight. The reuse of rocket stages significantly reduces the cost of reaching orbit. Catching them before they explode eliminates the risk of salt water damage and impact.
The team will also review the briefing to find out what happened and determine if changes are needed before the next helicopter experiment in the air. Another Electron launch is scheduled for later this month.
Reuters contributed to this report
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