SpaceX Grasshopper rocket makes a half-mile hop

On Monday, October 7th, Grasshopper completed its highest leap to date, rising to 744m altitude. The view above is taken from a single camera hexacopter, getting closer to the stage than in any previous flight.

Grasshopper is a 10-story Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicle designed to test the technologies needed to return a rocket back to Earth intact. While most rockets are designed to burn up on atmosphere reentry, SpaceX rockets are being designed not only to withstand reentry, but also to return to the launch pad for a vertical landing.

The Grasshopper VTVL vehicle represents a critical step towards this goal. Grasshopper consists of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage tank, Merlin 1D engine, four steel and aluminum landing legs with hydraulic dampers, and a steel support structure.

It almost looks CGI to me for some reason. Very interesting viewpoint.

the only problem I see, is the actual load allowance, coupled with the needed amount of re-entry fuel.

Freaking awesome!!

This may be far from finished but it is amazing to watch! Everyday there is many new goings on all around. What a fantastic time to live in! S&F.

The landing was spot on, bulls-eye! Hands down the coolest video I have seen in a long time thanks!

reply to post by usertwelve


Wow! How cool is that?!?

Loved that it nailed the landing dead-on.

Just amazing....

ETA - S&F of course!

mcx1942
Freaking awesome!!

This may be far from finished but it is amazing to watch! Everyday there is many new goings on all around. What a fantastic time to live in! S&F.

The landing was spot on, bulls-eye! Hands down the coolest video I have seen in a long time thanks!

SpaceX rocks, go Elon Musk!

The only reason the Dragon isn't carrying people up to the space station is that the government insists that there be an escape vehicle included (something never required of state space agencies). The Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket on earth.

reply to post by usertwelve


Whats that China, you finally have a space program? Whats that North Korea, you can sometimes launch a rocket, and tell you citizens that you literally are the only ones that can do it?

THIS IS AWESOME GO SPACE X! This may be useful also instead of ejecting in an emergency, but how different is it, from full speed towards space? This is def something that will be developed more and more.

PS: WE NEED TO SHOW ROCKET/SHUTTLE LAUNCHES (if we ever have shuttles again) FROM THIS VIEWPOINT, IT'S LIKE WATCHING A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE!

reply to post by SixX18

PS: WE NEED TO SHOW ROCKET/SHUTTLE LAUNCHES (if we ever have shuttles again) FROM THIS VIEWPOINT, IT'S LIKE WATCHING A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE!

Agreed. You never really get a sense of the velocity of a spacecraft from the ground but imagine a stationary camera high up as a shuttle/rocket speeds by at a few thousand miles an hour.