By — Margaret Myers Margaret Myers Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/spacex-releases-video-rocket-crash-landing Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter SpaceX releases video of rocket’s spectacular crash landing Science Jan 16, 2015 5:52 PM EDT On Monday, we told you about SpaceX’s failed attempted to recover and reuse Falcon 9, the 14-story rocket that launches supply capsules into space. This was the rocket that helped deliver the company’s fifth resupply mission to the International Space Station. Today, the company released video of the crash landing on Vine — and it’s quite the close-up. To review, here’s what happened in the crash, which happened Saturday: After the Dragon spacecraft detached, the rocket plummeted to Earth at a speed of 2,900 miles per hour. Falcon 9 opened its deceleration fins, and second set of retropropulsion engines burned to slow its fall onto a 300 foot-long, 170 foot-wide drone barge in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX founder and CEO was not discouraged by this setback. He tweeted this morning: Next rocket landing on drone ship in 2 to 3 weeks w way more hydraulic fluid. At least it shd explode for a diff reason. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2015 We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Margaret Myers Margaret Myers Margaret Myers is the former Digital News Editor for PBS NewsHour. She is a former editor for ESPN.com. She also led the features department at the Amarillo Globe-News in west Texas. @margaretvm
On Monday, we told you about SpaceX’s failed attempted to recover and reuse Falcon 9, the 14-story rocket that launches supply capsules into space. This was the rocket that helped deliver the company’s fifth resupply mission to the International Space Station. Today, the company released video of the crash landing on Vine — and it’s quite the close-up. To review, here’s what happened in the crash, which happened Saturday: After the Dragon spacecraft detached, the rocket plummeted to Earth at a speed of 2,900 miles per hour. Falcon 9 opened its deceleration fins, and second set of retropropulsion engines burned to slow its fall onto a 300 foot-long, 170 foot-wide drone barge in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX founder and CEO was not discouraged by this setback. He tweeted this morning: Next rocket landing on drone ship in 2 to 3 weeks w way more hydraulic fluid. At least it shd explode for a diff reason. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2015 We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now