SpaceX Grasshopper takes a leap into a 'ring of fire'
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 - 09:01
in Earth & Climate
Last week, SpaceX's Grasshopper took its highest leap ever, doubling its past flights. On March 7, 2013, the vertical and takeoff and landing (VTVL) vehicle, rose 24 stories or 80.1 meters (262.8 feet), hovered for approximately 34 seconds and then landed safely – and more accurately than ever before. The goal of Grasshopper is to eventually create a reusable first stage for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which would be able to land safely instead of falling back into the ocean and not being usable again.