GOOD launch, bad landing 鈥� again. SpaceX is continuing to test its reusable rocket technology, even as it carries out successful missions for its customers.
On 4 March, the firm lofted a communications satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida, for Luxembourg operator SES. The launch followed four attempts that were aborted due to fuelling issues.
The satellite was delivered to geosynchronous orbit, and SpaceX then tried to return the first stage of the rocket to a barge about the size of a football pitch in the Atlantic Ocean. But the heavy payload and high orbit meant the firm wasn鈥檛 expecting an easy touchdown 鈥� a prediction that proved correct.
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鈥淩ocket landed hard on the droneship,鈥� tweeted SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. 鈥淒idn鈥檛 expect this one to work (v hot reentry), but next flight has a good chance.鈥�
SpaceX has managed one successful landing, in December last year, on the ground rather than at sea. Three previous at-sea landings have failed.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淯p like a rocket鈥︹��
