After Successful Launch, SpaceX Rocket Explodes During Attempted Sea Landing

“Falcon lands on droneship, but the lockout collet doesn’t latch on one the four legs, causing it to tip over post landing”, he wrote on Instagram. Once the first stage of the rocket separated, SpaceX attempted to return it safely to Earth for re-use, which is one of the company’s long-term goals as it should reduce the cost of reaching space.

So close! After successfully launching a satellite into space today, SpaceX’s near-perfect landing of their rocket on a drone barge at sea was spoiled when the booster toppled upon touchdown. Hans Koenigsmann, president of mission assurance at SpaceX, said this time the company made a decision to land the rocket on the ocean because they do not have the “environmental approval” to attempt a landing on solid ground in the area. Despite foggy weather, the launch was nearly ideal and NASA’S Jason-3 satellite, which weights 1,124 pounds and is about 3.3-feet across, was successfully placed in the low-earth orbit.

Children prepare to take photos of the launch of Falcon 9 rocket near Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the United States, on January 17, 2016.

CEO Elon Musk said it was definitely harder to land a rocket on a ship and compared it to landing on an aircraft carrier.

The mission itself went of without a hitch, and the satellite, dubbed Jason-3, was placed into orbit exactly as planned.

Nasa Washington associate administrator for science John Grunsfeld said: “Jason-3 is a prime example of how our nation leverages Nasa’s expertise in space and scientific exploration to help address critical global challenges in collaboration with NOAA and our worldwide partners”.

“First stage on target at droneship but looks like hard landing; broke landing leg. Primary mission remains nominal”, SpaceX representatives said via the company’s Twitter account, @SpaceX. Jason-3 will join Jason-2, which was launched in 2008. The launch after that, a supply mission to the International Space Station scheduled no earlier than March 20, will likewise require a sea-based landing because of the supply-laden Dragon cargo ship being delivered. In December, the company completed a successful vertical landing of a rocket in Florida.