This is amazing.
Meet Grasshopper.
Grasshopper (aka Falcon 9 by Spacex) had a test flight on 13 August. It flew to an altitude of 250m with a lateral offset of 100m and then maneuvered back to its launch pad.
Well done, Grasshopper. You have learned to return to your balancing point.
Huh.
So I followed the link to see the size of this rocket; I couldn’t really tell by the video. So..this is a full-size rocket. Or near enough to one. Fully loaded, it might actually be capable of lifting something to space. WOW!
Cool!
That is quite something. Though, I must confess that I find the sight of a large rocket — especially a long, thin rocket, hovering in the air and tilting back and forth a bit unnerving. I keep thinking of the early launch failures in the late 50’s and early 60’s. This is quite a technological accomplishment by SpaceX!
oh that is SO cool. what kind of geniuses can figure out how to get grasshopper to take off, hover, then back down. kudos to them! However, i wish only NASA was doing this type of rocket maneuvers.