Catcher In The Fly Using the Slider Rockets

The sliding rocket design I had proposed can be first tested on the Catcher In The Fly (the flying rocket stage catcher). Rocket Catcher does not require the thrust of a rocket and is single stage.

The first rocket stage after it separates from the main rocket slows down. When its vertical velocity is zero it starts to fall down to Earth. At certain speed the first stage would deploy its parachute to slow down. The Catcher In The Fly would approach the falling stage and catch it using the carbon fiber fishnet. Then deploy its own parachutes to slow the rocket stage further. Finally, the first stage is brough back to the Base to be refurbished.

The advantage of using rockets instead of drones help to catch the second rocket stage as well. The second stage can be caught much higher in the atmosphere before it speeds up further. Additionally, the Rocket Catcher can keep up with the second stage's very high horizontal speed. Allowing more gradual slowing down of the recovered stage to minimize the damage during recovery.