Rocket Lab’s recycled booster engine fires flawlessly after ocean landing

Rocket Lab has big aspirations when it comes to reusable launch vehicles, and back in May ticked off a huge achievement, successfully catching its Electron booster as it fell from space. The company has since been busy refurbishing the rocket and has n… Continue reading Rocket Lab’s recycled booster engine fires flawlessly after ocean landing

Rocket Lab’s recycled booster engine fires flawlessly after ocean landing

Rocket Lab has big aspirations when it comes to reusable launch vehicles, and back in May ticked off a huge achievement, successfully catching its Electron booster as it fell from space. The company has since been busy refurbishing the rocket and has n… Continue reading Rocket Lab’s recycled booster engine fires flawlessly after ocean landing

Rocket Lab uses a helicopter to catch a rocket falling from space

Rocket Lab has taken an important step forward in its efforts to recover its boosters for re-flight, today capturing its Electron first stage with a helicopter as it hurtled back toward Earth. The attempt didn’t go entirely to plan with the booster pro… Continue reading Rocket Lab uses a helicopter to catch a rocket falling from space

Rocket Lab to test advanced heat shield for Electron booster recovery

Startup Rocket Lab is pressing ahead with its ambitions to turn its Electron booster into a reusable orbital launch vehicle, with plans to recover the rocket’s first stage for a second time this weekend. The upcoming mission will see the rocket splash … Continue reading Rocket Lab to test advanced heat shield for Electron booster recovery

Rocket Lab’s reusable Neutron rocket is built for human spaceflight

Rocket Lab has made a name for itself in short space of time by focusing on highly frequent launches of small satellites, but now the space startup believes it has bigger fish to fry. The company has today revealed plans for a bigger reusable rocket na… Continue reading Rocket Lab’s reusable Neutron rocket is built for human spaceflight

Elon Musk reveals catch and quick release plans for Super Heavy booster

SpaceX has been making controlled landings of its Falcon 9 boosters to allow them to be reused for a number of years now. Such landings involve the rockets touching down, be it on a boat or a launch pad, using legs built into the rocket. But SpaceX CEO… Continue reading Elon Musk reveals catch and quick release plans for Super Heavy booster

Rocket Lab gets set for its first ever booster recovery attempt

Last year, we saw some details start to emerge around Rocket Lab’s vision to recover its spacecraft for reuse, plans that involved catching part of its Electron booster in mid-air with a helicopter. The private company is set to take an important step … Continue reading Rocket Lab gets set for its first ever booster recovery attempt

Rocket Lab uses a helicopter to catch its booster in mid-air

Recovering rockets for re-use is becoming a key consideration for those in the private spaceflight game, with the likes of SpaceX and Blue Origin leading the charge. Rocket Lab is looking to join the party by collecting the first stage of its Electron … Continue reading Rocket Lab uses a helicopter to catch its booster in mid-air

Rocket Lab lays out plan to recycle used rockets by catching them with helicopters

Not too long ago, the ability to reuse rockets rather than burn them up in the atmosphere or plunge them into the ocean was a very fanciful concept. SpaceX singlehandedly changed the game in this regard, but it might soon have some company in… Continue reading Rocket Lab lays out plan to recycle used rockets by catching them with helicopters