krpalmer | A Falcon Has Landed (Reply)

I did happen to hear SpaceX was getting closer to its own "return to flight" launch, and still using its own Falcon 9 rocket. In taking in that coverage, though, I also began to gather there would be another attempt to bring the first stage in for a soft touchdown, except that this time it would head all the way back to Cape Canaveral. While trying to make a precise lineup with a barge, however large, out in the ocean didn't seem to have worked before, I could still remember how on first hearing the thought of a first stage boosting the second to sufficient velocity but still saving enough fuel to cancel its "downrange" velocity had sort of outraged my sensibilities.

After hearing of a few launch postponements, though, I got around to checking the NASA site itself, and saw a Twitter post congratulating SpaceX on its feat. I suppose I've got to accept the accomplishment. While I've heard questions about how easy it'll be to start refurbishing a kerosene-burning rocket to fly again and I know the space shuttle wound up needing a lot more maintenance than it was supposed to, that SpaceX has managed to work through problems somehow has more of an impact on me than a "private" company coming up with stunning solutions the first time around just because it's "private enterprise."