Rocket Lab's recovery program: what, why, when and how in the thread below!

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Credits of all media in the following thread go to Rocket Lab

Reusability was not considered for the small Electron booster ''as there’s little mass margin to dedicate to recovery systems'', explained by @Peter_J_Beck. However, Rocket Lab announced its recovery program (further explained in the thread below) in August 2019!

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After boosting the second stage and the payload for 2.5 minutes to an altitude of 80 km, the booster separates, faces its heatshield the correct way and begins its descent through the atmosphere, facing temperatures of 2400 ℃!

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After decelerating to Mach 2, and around 7 minutes 40 seconds after lift-off, the drogue parachute on Electron’s first stage deploys to increase drag and to stabilize the stage as it descends further down through the atmosphere.

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At a few kilometres above Earth's surface, the main parachute deploys to further lower the speed of the booster and to steer the booster to a precise point above the ocean.

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[Note, the following will only happen on future flights and will NOT happen during the upcoming recovery test!]

After deploying the main parachute, a helicopter catches the booster out of the sky. This has already been practised in March 2020 with a dummy first stage!

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The booster is then delivered to Rocket Lab's recovery vessel 'Catch of the Day'. After inspections, the booster is ready to fly again, increasing Electrons launch frequency!

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In the previous recovery test (November 2020) and during the upcoming two recovery tests (one of them is planned for next month!), the booster makes a soft splashdown (10 m/s) in the ocean. A recovery ship is then sent to recover it and inspection of the booster begins!

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Want to learn more? Watch the videos below or ask your question in the replies!

Animation:


Helicopter catch test:


Splashdown footage:


@Erdayastronaut's video on Electron recovery: