Rocket Lab chief exeuctive Peter Beck. Photo: ReutersSmall launch firm Rocket Lab has safely recovered from the ocean a rocket it sent to space, its chief executive says - a key test of the company's strategy to slash rocket launch costs via reusability. The recovery test comes as other launch companies ramp up investments into reusable systems after the industry was jolted by successes from the reusable Falcon 9 rocket of Elon Musk's SpaceX. With its next reusability test planned for early next year, Rocket Lab's eventual plan is to pluck the rocket booster mid-air using a helicopter as it floats down from space. SpaceX’s Falcon 9, on the other hand, returns from space by using its rocket engines to land on platforms.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 23, 2020 21:22 UTC