p.s. here's a url with great photos of the spaceX
rocket before-and-after! -- j

http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story.as...
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very fine, allosaur! . I missed Rocky in my youth. -- j
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Thanks, DrZ -- very interesting! -- j
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Be sure you count the cronies and other subsidized parasites in the group of ne'er do wells; they're stealing a lot more than the dummies scamming welfare.

Dang it, just when it was ready to touch down, a pop up ad appeared on the screen and almost knocked the Falcon into the sea.
But I being a hero, acted quickly hitting the "X" thus removing the ad from disaster. Yah Me.

For those who haven't seen it, this is the video SpaceX produced a few years back showing what they plan for a fully reusable launch system:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSF81...

Saw that clip this morning while eating my cereal. I was blown away by it. I almost had trouble believing what I was seeing.

The idea of a rocket powered landing has been around for decades. Consider Heinleins "Destination Moon" and the movie. And we did it several times with the real moon landings. But to recover a vehicle as part of an economic model for space exploration is a game changer. Musk suggests that if complete re usability can be achieved the cost of a space launch could be reduced one hundred fold or more. This would completely change the economics of space exploration and travel. Those of us that have worked in the space program knew it would eventually happen I am just glad that I was still around to see it. Great job SPACEX!

There a many variations on recoverable vehicles. I was just citing the plan SpaceX shows on its web site in a video on the subject. It will be interesting to see how the idea carries over with the Falcon Heavy, with three main stages to recover.

Not possible at present. And too far into the future given current technology and financial ability of all but a VERY small (dozen or less) group. Not sustainable.

Actually, a second stage can be utilized to push the craft to final trip velocity then retained for the balance of the trip, retaining fuel to use in retro braking and be jettisoned for atmospheric reentry and land at the final site for use as habitat or storage for follow-on resupply. The final stage will have fuel for soft landing and temporary quarters until buildout reaches the point of extravehicular habitation. Only the first stage needs to be recoverable.

Woooo! Another step into the future. Whenever I get down on humanity they come up with stuff like this.

The whole debate about the best way to make space access affordable has been between the vertical landing and takeoff crowd, and the horizontal landing and takeoff proponents. The hitch in everyone's getalong was that both sides thought that a VTOVL craft had to be a single stage to orbit (SSTO). Musk is showing that you can still lower the cost by bringing back each stage individually. Once he's satisfied the first stage part is reliably repeatable, SpaceX will take on the tougher job of bringing back the second stage. That will require a heat shield in addition to the landing gear and extra fuel supply. Dragon II is already designed to land under power, so the real milestone will be the flight of the first fully recoverable system.

"Encouraging" is another word to consider.

Its inspiring to see private enterprise doing what government couldnt do.

For the second time in the Gulch I am reminded of being a kid back in the 50s, who sat on the floor in front of a B\W TV watching "Rocky Jones Space Ranger."
I also recall late in the 60s being told such rocket ship landings are impossible. Just the stuff of fantasy and science fiction.
Scroll 1:58 minutes into the flick if you are impatient to see as 1954 special effects rocket ship landing~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSBGg...

Mars could be the Gulch.

I spent my youth reading Heinlein, so I am with you.
the more that "democracy" spreads, the worst it gets
around here, with all the ne'er-do-wells voting themselves
privileges over the wealthy. -- j
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Geez, you guys can mess up an artfully crafted insult. Drat.

and insert "centrally perforated partner, gifted with
the motion of the ocean" ... ! -- j
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Massive cheers and celebrations from over here! It is a huge milestone. Love the American persistence and ingenuity, and competition!
Brett Hoffstadt
Author, How To Be a Rocket Scientist

To all the nay-sayers on the four minute version: Take an airborne attempt at sexual intercourse with a round, centrally perforated pastry. You people have no sense of adventure. As far as I am concerned, we cannot move fast enough away from the planet. Humankind was meant to explore and achieve. Stand out of the way so the rest of us can.