Germany begins reusability study to capture rockets in midair and land them with a plane

by Caleb HenryMarch 21, 2019January 23, 2023

DLR's “Formation flight for in-Air Launcher 1st stage Capturing demonstration," or FALCon, received 2.6 million euros ($3 million) from the European Commission to study a new way of recovering launcher first-stage boosters.

The Germany space agency DLR is beginning a study this month on a reusable launcher concept that would use a winged first-stage booster captured on descent by an aircraft and towed back to land.

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Caleb Henry

Caleb Henry is a former SpaceNews staff writer. More by Caleb Henry