Slashdot Mirror


SpaceX's Grasshopper VTVL Finally Jumps Its Own Height

cylonlover writes "The SpaceX Grasshopper vertical takeoff vertical landing (VTVL) testbed has successfully flown to a height of 40 meters (131 ft), hovered for a bit and subsequently landed in a picture perfect test on December 17, 2012. The Grasshopper had previously taken two hops to less than 6 m (20 ft) in height, but the latest test was the first that saw it reach an altitude taller than the rocket itself, which is a modified Falcon 9 orbital launch vehicle. The flight lasted 29 seconds from launch to landing, and carried a 1.8 m (6 ft) cowboy dummy to give an indication of scale."

3 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. Ad astra by 14erCleaner · · Score: 1, Funny

    per dot-com bubble!

    --
    Have you read my blog lately?
  2. Re:YAY !! 1952 ALL OVER AGAIN !! by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 3, Funny

    Welcome to The Short Attention Span Era !!

    Patience, Grasshopper.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  3. Heh by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 3, Funny

    The flight lasted 29 seconds from launch to landing, and carried a 1.8 m (6 ft) cowboy dummy to give an indication of scale."

    I was just wondering what George Bush was up to these days.