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SpaceX Launches Load to ISS, Successfully Tests Falcon 9 Over Water

Posted by timothy on from the not-at-the-same-time dept.

mosb1000 (710161) writes "SpaceX is reporting that they've successfully landed the first stage of their CRS3 Falcon 9 rocket over the Atlantic Ocean today. This is potentially a huge milestone for low-cost space flight." In another win for the company, as the L.A. Times reports, SpaceX also has launched a re-supply mission to the ISS.

2 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Test and launch are the same, it is GREAT! by wagnerrp · · Score: 5, Informative

    I remember reading that of the $20 million cost of a launch only about $500,000 was due to fuel, so this is a complete game changer.

    Right idea, but wrong numbers. A Falcon 9 launch, not including the cost of the payload itself, is nearly $60M, while the fuel for it is only a quarter million.

  2. Re:Not sure about the recovery test by esperto · · Score: 5, Informative

    " You didn't expect them to stand upright in the water like a buoy did you?" Actually I would, when the booster from the shuttle land on water (here is a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?...) at first it goes horizontal but a few seconds later they go back straight up, because it is basically an empty cannister with some quite heavy engines on the bottom. IIRC before they start tugging the booster divers have to attach some hoses to pump water into the booster and make them go horizontal.