Nuked Rocket lab’s electron fell back to earth and deployed its parachutes as planned. The helicopter pilot noticed’different load characteristics’ that Rocket lab had not experienced during previous testing.
The pilot offloaded the stage for a successful splashdown, where it has been recovered by our vessel for transport back to our factory. The rest of the launch continued as planned, and rocket lab deployed all 34 satellites on board the flight.
Small satellite launch company Rocket lab will attempt to catch one of its rockets in mid-air today. After nearly three years of preparation, the rocket can potentially be launched again.
This will be the first time that Rocket lab attempts to catch one of its electron rockets with a helicopter. The company plans to recover and reuse its vehicles after launch.
The goal is similar to that of SpaceX, which has become famous for landing and reusing its rockets after flight. Rocket lab hopes to cut down on the manufacturing cost of building an entirely new rocket for each of its missions.
When the rocket launches to space, computers guide the booster back through earth’s atmosphere. Once the rocket reaches an altitude of 8.3 miles up, it deploys a drogue parachute to slow its fall, followed by a main parachute. The helicopter will arrive and attempt to capture the line of the parachute with a dangling hook.
The rocket reaches speeds of more than 5,000 mph during its fall. It must stay in one piece as scorching-hot plasma builds up around the vehicle.
Rocket lab successfully splashed down intact electron rockets in the ocean. The company retrieved three rockets out of the water to learn more about their journeys back to earth.
Rocket lab has rehearsed each step for its upcoming launch. It’s a fitting tribute to New Zealand where the hobbit and the lord of the rings were filmed.
If the helicopter successfully catches electron, the company will fly the booster back to New Zealand and offload it on a truck. Rocket lab will then take a closer look at the vehicle to see how it fared.
Rocket lab has pushed back the launch multiple times as it waits for ideal weather conditions. Now,’there and back again’ is slated for takeoff at 6:35pm et.
‘space is hard but so is live TV,’ says Bailey, who tweeted’it’s hard but it’s live TV’.
