DailyTech - SpaceX Shows Off "Grasshopper Project" for Reusable Rockets

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Science SpaceX Shows Off "Grasshopper Project" for Reusable Rockets
Tiffany Kaiser - December 26, 2012 8:38 AM

39 comment(s) - last by maugrimtr.. on Jan 2 at 10:26 AM

The Grasshopper Project is a Falcon first stage with a landing gear that's capable of taking off and landing vertically

SpaceX is undoubtedly the rockstar of U.S. space travel, and now, the company is taking its commitment to innovation to a whole new level.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is currently testing what is called the Grasshopper Project, which is a major breakthrough in rocket reusability.

The Grasshopper Project is a Falcon first stage with a landing gear that's capable of taking off and landing vertically. It does this by shooting into orbit, turning around, restarting the engine, heading back to the launch site, changing its direction and deploying the landing gear. The end result is a vertical landing.

Check out this video of the Grasshopper Project in action:

After NASA retired its space shuttle fleet (Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis shuttles) throughout 2011, SpaceX stepped in as the first private company to ship supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceX flew its Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket to the ISS for the first time back in May for a test supply run. After that successful trip, SpaceX and NASA signed a $1.6 billion contract that allows SpaceX to complete 12 supply trips to the ISS and back.

On October 7, SpaceX made its first official supply run as part of that contract. It arrived October 10. The mission was a success.

Dragon is due to make its second run in January 2013. SpaceX is also looking to send the first manned Dragon capsule to the ISS somewhere between 2015 and 2017.

Source: Business Insider

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RE: space elevator

By Azethoth on 12/28/2012 11:41:14 PM , Rating: 2

Why would an earthquake take it out? It is not actually standing on the ground...

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RE: space elevator

By sorry dog on 12/31/2012 3:02:03 PM , Rating: 2

It's hard to estimate the cost of something that you don't yet know exactly how to build.

...which is part of the reason things like vertical takeoff supersonic stealth fighters are insanely expensive...then add government procurement to that and it becomes insane expensive x 2.

Why build 1 when you can build 1 and half at twice the price??

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RE: space elevator

By delphinus100 on 1/1/2013 2:31:10 PM , Rating: 2

Indeed. Technically, it's an object that's in geostationary orbit (its center of mass is, anyway) that happens to be long enough to reach the ground (and an equal amount of mass extending out beyond GEO)...

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