Rocket Lab Will Attempt Midair Capture of Rocket Booster in 2022

Rocket Lab USA Inc. will attempt to catch a falling booster with a helicopter during the first half of 2022 as the company works to transition its Electron rocket into a reusable launch vehicle.

Rocket Lab said it had demonstrated “shadow operations” with a helicopter during the Nov. 18 launch of satellites for BlackSky Technology Inc. from New Zealand, tracking the rocket from 200 nautical miles offshore. Using a snag line, the company wants to capture the rocket in midair as it descends with a parachute -- preventing its exposure to sea water -- and fly it back to land.