spacex recycled reused rocket falcon 9

Photo via SpaceX/Flickr (Public Domain)

Watch the moment SpaceX made history by landing a reusable rocket

This is a groundbreaking moment for space travel.

 

Phillip Tracy

Tech

Posted on Apr 5, 2017   Updated on May 24, 2021, 6:29 pm CDT

SpaceX made history last week when one of its reusable Falcon 9 rockets touched down on a drone ship for the second time. At that moment, the company became the first space transport service to ever recover and reuse a space-bound rocket.

But a problem with the video feed during this historic flight cut out the landing. Luckily, SpaceX was prepared. Elon Musk’s company released new clips of the pivotal moment on its Instagram page last night, and the execution appears flawless.

You can now view three angles of the Falcon 9 sticking this groundbreaking landing.

The rocket you see in the video initially launched in April 2016. It took SpaceX four months to get the rocket ready for its second flight, Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president, told Space News. SpaceX says it will work to cut down the time it takes between launches so it can offer discounts of up to 30 percent to customers who fly in a reused rocket.

The company now has an impressive portfolio, having successfully landed six rockets on drone ships and nine altogether. SpaceX is planning up to six more launches this year using old equipment.

Here is the full video from the reusable Falcon 9’s flight.

 

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*First Published: Apr 5, 2017, 10:57 am CDT