Rocket Lab was unable to catch a rocket using a helicopter

Rocket Lab was only partially able to cope with the task after launching a small Electron rocket, which

researchers want to reuse it.But after briefly capturing the spent missile, the helicopter crew was forced to jettison it into the Pacific Ocean for safety reasons. Otherwise, the helicopter crew would have lost control of the controls.

The Electron rocket was launched on March 3 in the morning.She sent 34 satellites into orbit, after which the main upper section of the device began to fall to Earth. The parachute slowed her fall to a speed of about 10 m/s.

At that moment, the helicopter crew suspended a longa cable with a hook to hook the launcher's parachute ropes. The crew caught the rocket, but the load on the helicopter exceeded the parameters obtained during tests and simulations, so the rocket had to be released.

Nevertheless, the researchers called the mission a success. In their opinion, the unexpected load problem was non-critical, which can be corrected during the next start.

The company noted that the short capture of the rocketat an altitude of 1,980 m by a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter will be a milestone for researchers. The creation of reusable rockets will allow her to increase the number of launches and reduce costs.

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