FL - SpaceX Launch today May 2020; Water Landing back to earth Aug 2 2020

[Alice253]

That was totally awesome to watch!!!

 

[JerseyGirl]

SpaceX capsule and NASA crew make 1st splashdown in 45 years

Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk's SpaceX company.

It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year.

Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode the SpaceX Dragon capsule back to Earth less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola, hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Florida’s Atlantic coast.

“Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX,” said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters.

 

[JerseyGirl]

That was totally awesome to watch!!!

Took me back to my childhood watching early Apollo splashdowns!

 

[crhedBngr]

Took me back to my childhood watching Apollo splashdowns!

Yes, absolutely!!

 

[Alice253]

Me, too!

 

[JerseyGirl]

SpaceX achieved a big win in their Starship spacecraft development program on Tuesday evening, flying the SN5 prototype of that future vehicle to a height of around 500 feet, propelled by a single Raptor engine. The test, which took place at SpaceX’s rocket development and testing facility in Boca Chica, Texas, marks the first time that a full-scale Starship prototype has left the ground.

The company released a video of the whole test, including footage captured both from a drone’s-eye-view, as well as from a camera mounted on board Starship SN5, inside the fuselage and offering a look at the Raptor engine in action, as well as the landing legs activating in preparation for landing.

SpaceX launches and lands prototype of its Mars rocket Starship in key short flight test

Watch SpaceX’s stunning Starship prototype ‘hop’ test flight and landing – TechCrunch

Elon Musk last year unveiled the Starship prototype, built of stainless steel and dwarfing the company’s existing spacecraft. SpaceX is developing Starship with the goal of launching as many as 100 people at a time on missions to the moon and Mars.

SpaceX launches and lands prototype of its Mars rocket Starship in key short flight test

 

[LadyL]

I am still so amazed that they can land the rocket engines back to earth and have them land upright.

If anyone has not yet had a chance to watch how the rocket engines fly back down and land upright, you can go to 2:15 in this video. It is totally incredible and defies logic how its even possible.

that was amazing to watch