SpaceX just took another leap forward, or should we say hop with its Grasshopper test flight. It hit 2440 feet (744 meters) above the McGregor, Texas facility. They filmed using a hexacopter equipped with an HD camera. This achievement occurred on October 7th 2013. This is a rocket capable of launching and landing vertically, as seen in this video. The goal of this program is to create a reusable first stage rocket engine for the Falcon 9. Typically the first stage falls back to the earth and crashes in the ocean. The goal is to have that first stage return to earth controlled and save money for future flights.
15
Oct
2013