July 19, 2016•Update: July 19, 2016
By Barry Eitel
SAN FRANCISCO
Private space exploration pioneer, SpaceX, successfully landed its Falcon 9 rocket early Monday, the second time the company has pulled off such a feat.
The rocket is called a Dragon capsule by the company, and was launched into orbit around the Earth. The capsule is headed toward the International Space Station (ISS) and is carrying 5,000 pounds (2,267 kilograms) of crucial supplies and equipment for the station’s crew.
The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket fell back to Earth soon after the capsule was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The company successfully landed this stage back on Earth after takeoff, the second time SpaceX has completed the difficult task. The rocket was the fifth SpaceX has retrieved overall.
The launch also marked the ninth resupply mission SpaceX has taken on for NASA, and the eighth one to successfully make it into orbit.
Monday marked the first time the company has attempted land a rocket on solid ground. All previous landing efforts attempted to land rockets on an unmanned ship at sea, which requires a lot less fuel.
By landing rockets after they blast off, SpaceX is trumpeting the feasibility of reusable rockets. By reusing rockets, the company hopes to save money and energy.
“We just completed the post-landing inspection and all systems look good,” SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk tweeted from the launch. “Ready to fly again.”
The Dragon capsule will now orbit for about two days until it connects with the ISS. Astronauts will then clear the capsule of supplies, equipment and materials needed for several experiments.
“Astronauts on the station will set up the new experiments and equipment inside the station's facilities and return trash, completed research and unneeded equipment to the Dragon,” NASA said in a statement. “After five weeks in orbit, the Dragon will detach and steer itself back through Earth's atmosphere to land in the Pacific Ocean under a parachute.”
