Rocket Lab is preparing to conduct a significant test for its program aimed at reusing rockets during its upcoming mission, currently scheduled to occur around mid-November, with a launch window beginning on November 16th. This development comes as somewhat unexpected, as the launch provider initially indicated this test would take place on its 17th flight; however, the next launch represents the 16th. The company offered a clear explanation for the accelerated timeline.

This won’t be Rocket Lab’s first endeavor in the area of reusability—following the announcement in August 2019 of its intention to recover and reuse the Electron booster, a concept Rocket Lab’s founder and CEO Peter Beck had previously deemed unlikely for the company, Rocket Lab has been evaluating reentry guidance and control mechanisms, alongside the parachute system designed to reduce the booster’s speed upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.

In a recently published video, Beck detailed the rationale behind attempting booster recovery (fundamentally to enhance the company’s production capacity by reducing the necessity of constructing a new booster for each launch) and also explained why it wasn’t part of the initial plan (the Electron’s size prevents the use of engine-powered boost-back maneuvers similar to those employed by Falcon 9 and Blue Origin’s New Shepard).

However, Beck and his team determined they could implement an alternative strategy involving rotating the rocket and adjusting its angle to withstand reentry, combined with a sequence of drogue and main parachute deployments to decrease its velocity sufficiently for potential capture by a helicopter during descent. This particular recovery attempt will not involve the mid-air capture, but aims for a controlled splashdown in the ocean, slowed by the parachute, allowing a recovery crew to retrieve the booster.

Beck stated that successfully catching the booster with a helicopter isn’t his primary concern, as the company has already demonstrated the feasibility of that aspect. His main focus is ensuring the stage can be successfully recovered after releasing its orbital payload.

If Rocket Lab is successful in recovering this first stage, it will be in a strong position to establish a fully functional recovery system, potentially leading to shorter intervals between launches and reduced operating expenses in the future.

Regardless of the launch outcome, we will have the opportunity to discuss the attempt and subsequent steps with Beck at our inaugural TC Sessions: Space event in December, where he will be participating in a virtual fireside chat.