Rocket Lab plans stage 1 capture using helicopter

Phase one of the plan will see the first stage of an Electron recovered from the ocean downrange of the company’s Mahia Peninsula launch site in New Zealand, then returned to its production complex for refurbishment. The second phase will see a stage 1 use multiple parachutes for a controlled descent. A helicopter launched from a ship downrange of the peninsula will then intercept the falling vehicle and return to the ship carrying the rocket. From there the stage 1 will return to Rocket Lab’s base to be overhauled for relaunch.

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According to Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck, the ambitious plans will not only help Rocket Lab reduce its costs, it will also cut down the time between launches.

“From day one Rocket Lab’s mission has been to provide frequent and reliable access to orbit for small satellites,” he said in a statement. “Having delivered on this with Electron launching satellites to orbit almost every month, we’re now establishing the reusability program to further increase launch frequency.”