Elon Musk’s SpaceX has successfully landed a rocket back to Earth.
Musk was at the launch site in Florida where he said the rocket appeared to be failing in its landing, leading to a potential explosion. However, the SpaceX vessel managed to land in one piece.
The Falcon 9 rocket’s landing marks the company’s return to flight after half a year with an upgraded design that worked to perfection. The liquid oxygen was chilled to minus 340 degrees Fahrenheit — 40 degrees colder than earlier flights — and the kerosene fuel was cooled to 20 degrees instead of 70 degrees.
Elon Musk said the lower temperatures improved the performance of the rocket engines. “The Falcon has landed,” a launch commentator said during SpaceX’s webcast, followed by chants of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”
This is the third time that SpaceX had tried to land its Falcon 9 boosters—the first two times on a floating platform int he Atlantic. The first attempt ended in an explosion, and the booster tipped over the second time.
Elon Musk and SpaceX plans two launches next month: another commercial satellite and an ocean science satellite for NASA.
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