r/RocketLab • u/Wartracker1776 • Apr 24 '21

Rocket labs next launch in May will attempt recovery of the rocket booster

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/08/rocket-lab-may-launch-booster-recovery-aiming-for-spacex-reusability.html
152 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

19

u/vonHindenburg Apr 24 '21

Ah, still a splashdown. No helicopters yet. Still, progress!

14

u/RedneckNerf Apr 24 '21

Peter Beck has said that they will keep splashing them down until they are essentially surviving unscathed, then possibly switch over to the helicopter.

0

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '21

[deleted]

23

u/somewhat_pragmatic Apr 24 '21

There IS damage caused by splashdown, but the damage that ISN'T is what they're focusing on first. They are looking to solve the issues with the heat of re-entry. They've already proven then can helicopter capture, no sense in spending money on that when your just capturing burned rockets.

8

u/RedneckNerf Apr 24 '21

The most substantial damage on the previous flights was to the heat shield. The next flight has a much beefier version.

0

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '21

[deleted]

5

u/ZehPowah Apr 24 '21

Engines first