Helicopter catches rocket falling from space in first-of-its-kind manoeuvre

Oliver Browning
·1-min read

A satellite launch startup used a helicopter to catch a rocket booster as it fell to Earth on Tuesday, in a first-of-its-kind manoeuvre.

The incredible recovery took place off the coast of New Zealand, shortly after Rocket Lab’s stage-one booster Electron delivered 34 satellites to orbit.

A chopper then used a hook to grab the rocket’s parachute line in midair, before it was forced to let it go due to safety reasons.

The rocket then fell into the Pacific Ocean where it was collected by a waiting boat.

Click here to sign up for our newsletters.

Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting

Latest stories

  • Rebel Wilson only cares about Britney Spears's feedback on Senior Year

    Rebel Wilson is only worried about what Britney Spears thinks of her new movie. In the new Netflix feature, the Pitch Perfect actress plays a 37-year-old woman who wakens from a 20-year coma and decides to go back to high school to earn her diploma. In one key scene, Rebel and her co-stars recreated Britney's music video for the 1999 song (You Drive Me) Crazy, and in an interview for Extra, the star revealed that she really wants the singer to see the movie. "The only person I care about their r

  • Joe Alywn: My parents are comfortable with my sex scenes

    Joe Alwyn has revealed that his parents were comfortable with the steamy scenes he shares with co-star Alison Oliver in 'Conversations with Friends'.

  • Brooklyn Beckham shares family picture taken during recent trip to London

    Over the weekend, Brooklyn Beckham and new wife Nicola Peltz headed to London, and while there they shared a sweet family photo. READ: Victoria Beckham confirms Brooklyn Beckham's major move after Nicola Peltz wedding While out there, Brooklyn had a special birthday to celebrate and his new wife joined him for the celebrations. The son of footballing ace David Beckham shared the family photo on his Instagram Stories, featuring him and Nicola alongside some family friends and members as they mark

  • Selma Blair tried to take own life after boyfriend break-up

    Selma Blair tried to take her own life after a break-up with her third boyfriend by chasing down a bottle of Tylenol with tequila.

  • You need to see Drew Barrymore's long blonde hair transformation

    Drew Barrymore swaps brunette waves for hip length blonde tresses in major hair transformation complemented with makeup by Charlotte Tilbury herself.

  • The Queen's new photos have got royal fans all saying the same thing

    In a rare public engagement, yesterday saw Queen Elizabeth attend the opening of the Elizabeth Line in Paddington Station – and royal fans are all saying

  • Selena Gomez Made Her White House Debut in a Sophisticated LBD

    Selena Gomez made her White House debut in style when she attended a Mental Health Youth Action Forum on Wednesday, May 18, in Washington DC. Accompanied by FLOTUS Jill Biden, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and Ambassador Susan E. Rice, Gomez hosted an open conversation about youth mental health and her personal self-care journey. For the special occasion, the "Only Murders in the Building" star opted to wear a sleeveless shift dress adorned with diamond embellishments along the neckline and arm cutouts.

  • Jason Momoa apologises for taking photos inside Sistine Chapel

    The Aquaman star visited the religious site within Vatican City, Rome earlier this week while on location filming Fast X - the latest instalment of the Fast & Furious movie franchise. Jason posted several photos on Instagram of himself admiring Michelangelo's famous frescos despite the fact visitors are banned from taking photos and videos within the building. Following backlash from fans online, the actor issued an apology via social media on Saturday. "If you ever felt that I disrespected your culture, it wasn't my intention. I was very respectful and I asked for permission."

  • MGK dedicates song to 'wife' Megan Fox and 'unborn child' at Billboard Music Awards

    Machine Gun Kelly has sparked rumours he's expecting a baby with his fiancee Megan Fox after dedicating a song to their 'unborn child' at the Billboard Music Awards.

  • Britney Spears announces "devastating" miscarriage of "miracle baby"

    Britney Spears has announced that she and partner Sam Asghari have sadly lost their "miracle baby" early in the pregnancy.

  • TUI's Marella Cruises are the hot holiday ticket of 2022 - here's their best cruise destinations

    Cruise holidays are back with a bang and TUI’s Marella Cruises are causing a buzz of excitement among holidaymakers with their brilliant cheap cruise deals and types, from adventure-filled cruises to luxury cruises to far-flung locations. But where are the best cruise destinations in the world? From closer to home European holiday hotspots to luxury locations in the Caribbean, these are the best places to visit on a TUI cruise this year – or plan ahead and book one of these cruises for 2023. The

  • Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are officially married!

    Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have officially got hitched.

  • Ruth & Pen by Emilie Pine review – a world of joy and pain

    Ruth & Pen by Emilie Pine review – a world of joy and pain. The Notes to Self author’s uplifting debut novel follows the fate of two women over the course of a transformative day in Dublin

  • Megan Fox Addresses Machine Gun Kelly’s 'Vulnerable And Emotional' Performance, After His 'Unborn Child' Comment

    Machine Gun Kelly dedicated his song to his fiancé Megan Fox and 'unborn child' causing speculation as to whether Fox is pregnant.

  • Fred Ward, 'Tremors' star, dead at 79

    Actor Fred Ward, who starred in films such as 'Tremors' and 'The Right Stuff,' has died at the age of 79. Ward was also known for roles in 'Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins' and 'Miami Blues'. 'Variety' reports that Ward was born in San Diego, California. After serving a three-year stint in the Air Force, he developed an interest in acting. Ward went on to study acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio in New York. He then traveled to Europe where he found work dubbing Italian films into English.

  • Pink hospitalised with stroke-like symptoms: 'It was terrifying'

    Singer Pink opened up about her mental health, explaining she used to have such bad panic attacks she thought she was having a stroke. MORE: Hailey Bieber diagnosed with a blood clot on her brain after mini-stroke Speaking as part of the Child Mind Institute's Dare To Share campaign, Pink said: "In my early twenties I used to get pretty awful panic attacks, I didn't know what was happening, I didn't have anyone to talk to about it and I didn't know what to do, I'd feel like I was having strokes,

  • My Chemical Romance: two years late, but as vital and evocative as ever

    My Chemical Romance’s big comeback wasn’t meant to be like this. Having ended their six-year hiatus in December 2019 with their enormous return at LA’s Shrine Expo Center, the emo superstars should have spent the next 12 months striding about the stadia of the US, UK and Europe as reborn legends. As millennial punk’s most anticipated reunion, it was a doozy, too big to fail.

  • Amanda Holden struts through Paris in must-see outfit

    Amanda Holden left her fans mesmerised on Saturday night after she posted a video of herself strutting through the streets of Paris wearing a silky floral skirt and stunning sheer blouse. SEE: Amanda Holden rocks bright satin skirt and wildly unexpected top The 51-year-old star is currently on a city break in the romantic French capital, and has been sharing several snaps from her time in Europe. The Britain's Got Talent judge rocked a figure-flattering silk skirt and glamorous black blouse. Ama

  • Millie Bobby Brown and boyfriend Jake Bongiovi wore matching outfits to the Stranger Things season 4 premiere

    Millie Bobby Brown and boyfriend Jake Bongiovi attended the Stranger Things season 4 premiere at Netflix Brooklyn. They wore matching outfits on the red carpet.

  • Jerry Bruckheimer won't rule out Johnny Depp's return to Pirates of the Caribbean franchise

    The movie producer first worked with Depp on the franchise with 2003's The Curse of the Black Pearl and they subsequently reunited for four sequels. Depp's involvement in a sixth Pirates movie has been one of the key arguments in his ongoing defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard. He and his legal team have claimed that her December 2018 Washington Post op-ed, in which she described herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse cost him acting roles, including a return as Captain Jack Sparrow.