Mid-Air Capture
A specially modified helicopter with a boom and winch underneath snags the parafoil chute attached to a model Genesis sample return capsule. The hook on the end of the boom collapses the chute, allowing the helicopter to retrieve the capsule in mid-air.
This photo was taken during successful trials of this novel capsule recovery technology.
Genesis returned its solar wind samples to Earth on Sept. 8, 2004.
