The comparison between tethers and an aircraft carrier catch cable seems particularly apt. Thanks you. And yes, most times, you can initiate a go around if you fail a carrier landing. Not really an option with an orbital tether. Some sort of cable pair with a targeted coupler would probably work, each side with a heat emitter an heat seeker RCS system. Obviously, there would need to be slack in the system, (nearly local) winches a ways up-cable in the system, may be an answer.
The relative motion drops to zero though, at the moment of capture. So it's more like two cars on the highway that pull alongside each other just as they match speed. Might still be too precise for a human, but automated systems should have little trouble.
And it might be easier to store the emergency retrieval system on the tether's hub. That way it doesn't have to be hauled around to be used (hopefully) infrequently.
