Last Saturday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off to the International Space Station, carrying cargo, scientific experiments, and supplies. It successfully berthed to the International Space Station without a hitch. <\/p>\n
But one interesting aspect of the liftoff is that SpaceX was using the opportunity to test its first stage rocket, which the company is attempting to make reusable in order to drive down the costs of its launches. The company has previously tested a descent of a first stage into the water, but those rockets didnt survive. <\/p>\n
On Saturday, SpaceX tried something new landing the rocket on a drone barge floating in the ocean. The test failed, however, and the rocket was destroyed on impact. (Something that CEO Elon Musk referred to jokingly on Twitter as a rapid unscheduled disassembly.) <\/p>\n
Today, SpaceX released some footage of the attempted landing, which you can see below: <\/p>\n
Close, but no cigar, the company noted in an accompanying tweet. This time. <\/p>\n
In a separate Tweet, Musk said that the company would be trying it again with another launch in 2-3 weeks. This time, with way more hydraulic fluid. <\/p>\n
At least it [should] explode for a [different] reason, he tweeted. <\/p>\n
Follow me onTwitterorFacebook. Read my Forbes bloghere. <\/p>\n
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SpaceX Releases Footage Of Failed Reusable Rocket Landing<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Last Saturday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off to the International Space Station, carrying cargo, scientific experiments, and supplies. It successfully berthed to the International Space Station without a hitch. Continue reading