To all the worldwide friends. Images of the Falcon 9 first stage removed from the target landing barge, what a great mission success this was, congrats to SpaceX!
About 10 minutes after liftoff, the first stage fell back through the sky, firing engines several times to control its descent and stick a landing on the "drone ship" stationed more than 200 miles down range in the Atlantic Ocean.
It was the first time SpaceX pulled off a landing at sea, after one successful landing on a pad at Cape Canaveral in December.
The sea landing was an important milestone because as many as half of SpaceX's launches will not be able to return to land because of the rockets' speed and trajectory.
To recover and reuse any significant number of boosters, regular landings at sea will be a must.
They are extremely challenging, however, offering the rocket a tiny "postage stamp" of a target that doesn't stay still, Musk said.
SpaceX is expected to have another launch and landing opportunity by late this month or early May.
About 10 minutes after liftoff, the first stage fell back through the sky, firing engines several times to control its descent and stick a landing on the "drone ship" stationed more than 200 miles down range in the Atlantic Ocean.
It was the first time SpaceX pulled off a landing at sea, after one successful landing on a pad at Cape Canaveral in December.
The sea landing was an important milestone because as many as half of SpaceX's launches will not be able to return to land because of the rockets' speed and trajectory.
To recover and reuse any significant number of boosters, regular landings at sea will be a must.
They are extremely challenging, however, offering the rocket a tiny "postage stamp" of a target that doesn't stay still, Musk said.
SpaceX is expected to have another launch and landing opportunity by late this month or early May.
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