/sci/ - Science & Math

>>16082185
>because everyone needs to be talking about developing reuse these days
I wish it wasn't just talk. it's just another situation where spacex shines and rocketlab gets to soak up second place with the feeblest attempt you've ever seen because no one else has even tried

is there any reason why EVERY rocket first stage isn't given a parachute, recovered, and had its engines stripped off, refurbished, and reflown? it seems like a pretty cheap and low risk project that you can cancel if it doesn't pan out. easier than droneship landing. easier than SMART. you only lose like 100kg of payload maybe. which you weren't using on every launch anyway.

Electron isn't the first rocket of its size. If retrieval is as easy as fishing it out of the ocean why did none that came before it try for reuse?

>>15689564
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1694445669002740176
>For the first time, we’re launching with a preflown Rutherford engine today. This is a major step toward evolving Electron into a reusable rocket.

T-15:00