Video
Rocket ‘landed fine’ on floating platform but tipped over after touchdown
Thomson Reuters Posted: Apr 15, 2015 11:38 AM ET Last Updated: Apr 15, 2015 12:06 PM ET
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasts off 13:45
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasts off 13:45
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SpaceX has released a video of the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket touching down on a floating platform during an attempted landing before toppling over.
It was the company’s unsuccessful second attempt to land the rocket in an effort to develop a booster rocket that can be reused on future space missions.
During Tuesday’s launch, the rocket successfully sent an unmanned Dragon cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station before separating and attempting to land on an unmanned barge. The barge, described by SpaceX as “an autonomous spaceport drone ship” was named “Just Read the Instructions” and floated about 322 kilometres off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla.
The barge called ‘Just Read the Instructions’ was floating about 322 kilometres off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla., when the rocket came in for a landing. (SpaceX)
The seconds-long Vine video posted on SpaceX’s Twitter account shows the rocket firing and adjusting its angle as it approaches the platform. It rotates slightly counterclockwise to touch down on the centre of the platform in a cloud of smoke, but appears to keep rotating a little too far, leaning to the left as the video ends. The company did not say what happened after that.
Falcon 9 first stage landing burn and touchdown on Just Read the Instructions https://t.co/4Te0BfT2Qn
— @SpaceX
Can’t see the video? Watch here.
SpaceX CEO tweeted that the rocket “landed fine, but excess lateral velocity cause it to tip over post landing.”
Looks like Falcon landed fine, but excess lateral velocity caused it to tip over post landing pic.twitter.com/eJWzN6KSJa
— @elonmusk
SpaceX’s previous attempt in January ended in a dramatic explosion after it ran out of hydraulic fluid for its steering fins and crashed into the platform.
Close, but no cigar. This time. https://t.co/JowUE6a1D7
— @SpaceX
The company will make a third landing attempt during a space station resupply mission targeted for June.
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