Watch Rocket Lab launch and attempt to capture first stage with helicopter
I have embedded below the live stream of Rocket Lab’s launch today from New Zealand, scheduled for a 3:41 pm (Pacific) liftoff. The rocket carries 34 satellites for deployment.
More exciting however will be the attempt to recover the first stage. On this launch the Electron rocket’s first stage will control its descent using both thrusters and parachutes so that a helicopter can make the first attempt to snatch it out of the air before it hits the ocean.
If successful, Rocket Lab will then hopefully be able to reuse the first stage on a later launch.
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I have embedded below the live stream of Rocket Lab’s launch today from New Zealand, scheduled for a 3:41 pm (Pacific) liftoff. The rocket carries 34 satellites for deployment.
More exciting however will be the attempt to recover the first stage. On this launch the Electron rocket’s first stage will control its descent using both thrusters and parachutes so that a helicopter can make the first attempt to snatch it out of the air before it hits the ocean.
If successful, Rocket Lab will then hopefully be able to reuse the first stage on a later launch.
In order to remain completely independent and honest in my writing, I accept no sponsorships from big space companies or any political organizations. Nor do I depend on ads.
Instead, I rely entirely on the generosity of readers to keep Behind the Black running. You can either make a one time donation for whatever amount you wish, or you sign up for a monthly subscription ranging from $2 to $15 through Paypal, or $3 to $50 through Patreon, or any amount through Zelle.
The best method to donate or subscribe is by using Zelle through your internet bank account, since it charges no fees to you or I. You will need to give my name and email address (found at the bottom of the "About" page). What you donate is what I get.
To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If these electronic payment methods don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
They caught it!
RKLB is up half a buck to $8 a share in after market trading after after a claimed recovery of the rocket’s first stage. I say “claimed” because it wasn’t obvious from the video that capture was successful.
Update. They are saying they caught it, but the pilot had some different/odd load characteristics. For safety reasons he cut it loose near the vessel they had staged just for that reason.
So. Partial success on the catch.
Call me the Doubting Thomas but I have not yet seen the booster capture image or a positive announcement from Rocket Lab that they caught it. That they were very close is plain to see but no swinging booster images have crossed my screen yet. Does anyone have a link?
Thomas
Tom,
They announced it on the live feed. The camera angle was not great.
At 52:450, if you put it in slow-mo, the yellow line is snagged. I am guessing the camera was pointing straight down.
As the aircraft flew forward the drag pulled it back out of view.
I too was watching hoping to catch it.
Toward the end, before they went into the payload deployment sequence she says they he dropped it for safety.
It is kind of funny. One of their earlier missions was called “Pics or it didn’t happen”.
The video just showed a brief glimpse of the capture hook and rope kinda starting to entangle with the first stage parachute line then it went out of view. They really need to up their game on the video they take. When the announcer said they had caught it I took her word for it, so if I was wrong I apologize. Too bad they had to cut it loose if that’s what happened. Hopefully some more video or picture evidence will come out soon to verify. If I didn’t have to go to the lab right now I would have more time to investigate this but an MRI machine awaits my presence.
t-dub noted: “They really need to up their game on the video they take.”
I think this was a thread on the forum a few years ago. There is a developing field for space launch video. And those who know how to do it.