SpaceX using Oil Rig Support boats to catch using aerial nets.

SpaceX catches entire rocket nose cone that fell from space for 1st time | Space https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-payload-fairing-catch-success.html

I guess it worked out, BARELY. Boat rated at 30+ knots. Seemed to rely on boat doing about 10kts meeting falling parachute at about 15kts. From wake it looks like the boat was turning at last moment.

What new weird boat design would be best to do such catches??? Figure you want to increase the size/weight of object being caught, as well as the "weather envelope" for operations. Mostly, from the recent near fail, you'd want a boat better able to correct at last moments for straying drop paths, so you want lots acceleration forward, back and side to side.

I'm thinking a big cat for a big square net, and both hulls engines pulling against big sea-anchors at moment of catch as line pays out. Easier to slow with sea-anchors by increasing load to lines than to increase speed with engines. For sharp last second turns, use sea-anchors asymmetrically.

 

If getting wet does not damage the parts, a pair of purse seiners would do the trick.

 

The article mentions that they don't like the fairings falling in the sea due to corrosion.

 

-Will (Dragonfly)