Launch firm Rocket Lab USA Inc has captured a falling rocket stage out of the air with a helicopter before dropping it in the ocean, appearing to achieve a partially successful test of the company’s novel cost-savings approach.
The demonstration on Monday, involving parachutes and a long cable hanging from a helicopter, sought to check off a key milestone for the California-based company as it ventures to slash the cost of sending hardware into space, an industry trend pioneered by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
