SpaceX Rocket Makes a Historical Vertical Landing

Leading Edge Aerospace, which makes tools for aircraft parts, was instrumental in creating the landing gear for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

For the first time-after successfully completing its commercial mission to deliver 11 satellites into orbit-the rocket returned to earth and and landed intact.

Elon Musk attends the SpaceX Commerical Launch Facility on September 22, 2014.

The first-stage booster turned around and headed back to the landing site after the second stage separated and continued to orbit with the satellites.

Miriam Kramer contributed reporting.

It was the company’s first launch since its rocket carrying cargo to the International Space Station exploded June 28.

But SpaceX’s Falcon rocket reached higher heights than Blue Origin’s November test flight. The mission involved launching SpaceX’s Flacon 9 reusable rocket and then landing it on a concrete landing pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. “I think we’ll probably keep this one on the ground, just [because] it’s kind of unique, it’s the first one we’ve brought back”, he said.

Safely landing these rockets can save companies a lot of money, said Carissa Christensen, managing partner at the consulting firm Tauri Group. Several earlier attempts by the company ended in failure when they tried to land the rocket on a ocean platform.

U.S. company SpaceX has successfully landed an unmanned rocket upright, after sending 11 satellites into orbit.

The launch was originally scheduled for Sunday night, but was delayed because there was a 10 percent better chance of a successful landing on Monday, according to Musk.

Previous attempts, all unsuccessful, were attempted on floating landing pads.

Their goal is to recycle the first stage, including its expensive engines, so it can be used repeatedly, lowering the cost of space travel.

Following the successful SpaceX landing December 21, Amazon co-founder, Jeff Bezos, who heads Blue Origin, took the opportunity to rejoin the friendly rivalry.