Evidence: during the 79-second recent test-flight, this prototype planetary lander went up 142 meters, scooted sideways, and made a mid-course correction during descent to land within 25 centimetres (10 inches) of its target.
Or, to quote the Flight Test 8 video caption, “Initial data indicates a nominal flight meeting all test objectives.” Here’s the whole test flight sequence in all it’s rocketry glory:
Not bad, especially considering the second test flight literally crashed and burned.
For more info, check out the Morpheus Project website, or check out this post at Universe Today. Images and video credit the project team at NASA.
Update: The Bad Astronomer wrote up a longer piece that covers different aspects of the flight.
