Rocket Lab is in the process of developing a way to recover the rockets it launches, despite their originally being designed as fully expendable launch vehicles. The company had a surprise announcement on Wednesday: It has already managed to successfully catch an Electron in mid-air, during a test meant to prove out the feasibility of that part of the operation. The whole process involves Rocket Lab employing an onboard guidance system to orient an Electron first-stage to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere after it has deployed its kick-stage and payload, at such an angle that it won’t burn up.