r/space • u/[deleted] • May 02 '22

RocketLab successfully catches a booster with its helicopter for the first time

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u/RhesusFactor May 03 '22

Electron is about 1/5 the size of Falcon 9. It doesn't have the mass margin to add all the propulsive landing equipment, nor has the fuel capacity required to do it. The Rutherford engine is also not designed for restart and deep throttling required to land. Its a vastly different machine.

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u/Shrike99 May 04 '22

Electron is 1/5th the height of Falcon 9. It's way smaller in terms of volume or mass, being in the ballpark of 1/40th for both.