Rocket Lab's Electron launch marks significant progress in reusability efforts
Rocket Lab is making upgrades to its Electron rocket for its upcoming "Baby Come Back" mission, bringing the company closer to reusing its first stage. The rocket will now descend under a parachute and splash down for recovery by a ship, instead of mid-air capture. The changes include improvements to the vehicle's watertightness, a two-point lifting method for recovery, and a lighter parachute optimized for splashdown recovery. Rocket Lab is taking a methodical approach to reusability and plans to make incremental steps towards full reuse. Reusability is seen as an important economic lever for the company, but not an urgent requirement.