SPACEX

SpaceX rocket exploded in the air during a test launch

Well, that’s not supposed to happen. A SpaceX rocket exploded during a test flight in Texas earlier today. This was the second test for the three engine version of SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket. There were no injuries. SpaceX told USA Today that, “an anomaly was detected in the vehicle and the flight termination system…

Sploid Casey Chan Aug 22

Dammit, Grasshopper, stop being so amazing already

SpaceX’s Grasshopper is even more impressive than you probably realized – and that’s saying something. While previous test flights have demonstrated the reusable launch vehicle’s ability to lift hundreds of meters straight into the air before returning gracefully to Earth, yesterday’s launch proved the rocket capable of much more… vigorous maneuvers. https://gizmodo.com/watch-spacexs-grasshopper-vehicle-hop-820-feet-into-t-477801363 https://gizmodo.com/watch-as-grasshopper-sets-a-new-record-by-hopping-ove-700418705 “Latest rocket…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Aug 14

Watch the SpaceX Grasshopper Hop Into the Air and Fly Sideways

You’ve seen the SpaceX Grasshopper blast off, hover and land vertically. You’ve seen it fly higher than the Chrysler building and land vertically. Now you can see this innovative little rocket zoom 250 meters into the air and fly 100 meters sideways. You know what it does next? It lands vertically. https://gizmodo.com/watch-spacexs-grasshopper-hover-80-meters-in-the-air-5989978 The Grasshopper, of…

Space & Spaceflight Adam Clark Estes Aug 14

SpaceX Grasshopper Rocket Flies Higher than the Chrysler Building Now

SpaceX’s reusable Grasshopper rocket is growing up. And up and up and up. It just set a new record for height, hovering at over 325 meters (1066 feet)—higher than Manhattan’s Chrysler Building—and hovering there, before coming back down and landing on its launchpad safely. The Grasshopper itself is a 10-story Vertical Takeoff, Vertical Landing rocket.…

Space & Spaceflight Kyle Wagner Jul 8

Watch as Grasshopper sets a new record by ‘hopping’ over 1,000 feet

SpaceX’s Grasshopper reusable rocket established a new standard a few weeks ago by climbing to an altitude of 1,066 feet (325 meters) — and then descending back down to Earth for its most accurate landing yet. The previous record, which was set back in April, saw the Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) rocket reach a…

io9 George Dvorsky Jul 8

Let’s talk about the dark side of private space programs

As government funding for space programs dwindles, our greatest hope seems to lie with space entrepreneurs like SpaceX’s Elon Musk, who wants to put a city on Mars — or Robert Bigelow, who wants to build the first space hotel. But should corporations really be controlling the future of space travel? https://gizmodo.com/spacex-founder-unveils-plan-to-send-80-000-people-to-ma-5963349 Certainly we need…

io9 Annalee Newitz Jun 26

With Current Budget, NASA Will Never Get to Mars

At today’s House hearing for the NASA Authorization Act of 2013, witness Thomas Young was asked how long it would take the Agency to put a human on Mars with its current budget. His response was unambiguous: “Never.” Prepared statements from Young (former executive VP of Lockheed Martin) and co-witness Steven Squyres (Principle Investigator of…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jun 19

Watch SpaceX’s Grasshopper vehicle “hop” 820 feet into the air

In its latest trial run, SpaceX’s Grasshopper spacecraft soared to a height of 820 feet, hovered, then lowered itself back to Earth, alighting gracefully on the landing pad from whence it launched. The Grasshopper is a 10-story tall Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) rocket; it lifts things up, and it sets things back on the…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Apr 23

Watch SpaceX’s Grasshopper Break Its Record For Taking Off and Landing Vertically

Another day, another Johnny Cash-accompanied test of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Grasshopper rocket—which is not to say this isn’t exciting, because consistency is the name of the game for a commercial reusable rocket. Especially the Grasshopper, which can take off and land vertically. In this most recent test, the Grasshopper takes off, hovers at about 820…

Tech News Robert Schoon Apr 23

Must Watch: Dawkins, Nye, Tyson, and Stephenson Discuss Science and Storytelling

“Without hyperbole, it is true that i don’t think there has ever been on one stage an assembly of science storytellers and communicators like this,” said theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss of the panelists assembled for the debate featured here. We’re inclined to agree with him. After all, it’s not every day you get astrophysicist Neil…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Apr 15

Find out where you can celebrate Yuri’s Night!

It’s Yuri’s Night! Tonight, space enthusiasts the world over will kick off celebrations to commemorate 52 years of human space exploration by recognizing the anniversary of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight into space (not to mention the 32nd anniversary of the very first Shuttle launch). https://gizmodo.com/celebrate-yuris-night-with-art-inspired-by-the-first-hu-5791075 Yuri’s Night is technically tonight, but celebrations are scheduled…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Apr 12

The Science Fiction Books that Inspired SpaceX’s Elon Musk

Elon Musk is making all of our dreams of independent space flight come true, and he wants to put humans on Mars. He may even succeed. But what inspires him? Some classic science fiction books, apparently. MediaBistro’s GalleyCat asked him which SF books in particular have inspired him, and the answer includes a lot of…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Mar 20

Watch SpaceX’s Grasshopper Hover 80 Meters In the Air

When we last saw SpaceX’s Grasshopper, it had just finished a test flight that carried the vertical takeoff/landing rocket up to 40 meters. A couple months later, it’s now hovering in at around 80 meters! Progress! And Johnny Cash! https://gizmodo.com/spacexs-grasshopper-rocket-takes-off-and-lands-vertical-5971543

Tech News Peter ha Mar 11

Watch SpaceX launch its second cargo mission to the ISS, live on io9!

Last May, SpaceX’s Dragon capsule became the first commercial spacecraft in history to visit the International Space Station. This morning, the private spaceflight company will attempt to do it again. https://gizmodo.com/spacex-has-completed-its-first-commercial-cargo-deliver-5950497 SpaceX’s second cargo delivery mission to humanity’s outpost in space is set to lift off at 10:10 ET, atop the company’s Falcon 9 rocket.…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Mar 1

Everything We Know About Dennis Tito’s 2018 Human Mission to Mars

Dennis Tito wants to send humans to Mars. Earlier today, the millionaire space tourist announced more details on a mission that would see two astronauts set a course for the red planet in January 2018, perform a flyby (no orbital insertion or landing required) and head right back to Earth in the span of 501…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Feb 27

Go SpaceX Ladies, Go!

Incredible: SpaceX It’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, and we’re celebrating our ladies! At SpaceX, nearly 100 women engineers are working to change the future of human spaceflight. via SpaceX/Facebook

Tech News Attila Nagy Feb 22

How Dennis Tito could send humans to Mars and back by 2020

Late last night, word began circulating that entrepreneur Dennis Tito — who, in 2001, became the world’s first space tourist — intends to launch a privately backed mission to Mars in 2018. Details will be announced next week, but initial reports indicate that the expedition will be round-trip and last 501 days. Most significantly, it…

io9 Sponsored post Feb 21

NASA to launch inflatable cabins into space

It folds like a shirt and fills with air like a balloon. It’s an entirely new kettle of space pod, destined for the International Space Station and beyond — and if NASA has its way, it could be launching as soon as 2016. Via NYT: Instead of metal, its walls will be made of floppy…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jan 18

SpaceX’s Grasshopper Rocket Takes Off and Lands Vertically and Can Also Hover

There’s no doubt that the future of this country’s space exploration lies in the hands of the private sector. And Elon Musk‘s SpaceX is clearly at the forefront and the company’s reusable rocket, the Grasshopper, is a sight to see. In a recent test, the Grasshopper vertically took off, ascended to roughly 12 stories, hovered…

Tech News Peter ha Dec 27

One small hop for SpaceX, a giant leap towards rocket reusability

SpaceX has just taken a major step closer to achieving the world’s first reusable launch vehicle. The private space-firm has just released a video showing its Grasshopper Vertical Take Off and Landing Vehicle rising up to a height of 40 meters (130 feet) where it hovers for a brief moment, and then vertically returns back…

io9 George Dvorsky Dec 25

SpaceX rocket exploded in the air during a test launch

Dammit, Grasshopper, stop being so amazing already

Watch the SpaceX Grasshopper Hop Into the Air and Fly Sideways

SpaceX Grasshopper Rocket Flies Higher than the Chrysler Building Now

Watch as Grasshopper sets a new record by ‘hopping’ over 1,000 feet

Let’s talk about the dark side of private space programs

With Current Budget, NASA Will Never Get to Mars

Watch SpaceX’s Grasshopper vehicle “hop” 820 feet into the air

Watch SpaceX’s Grasshopper Break Its Record For Taking Off and Landing Vertically

Must Watch: Dawkins, Nye, Tyson, and Stephenson Discuss Science and Storytelling

Find out where you can celebrate Yuri’s Night!

The Science Fiction Books that Inspired SpaceX’s Elon Musk

Watch SpaceX’s Grasshopper Hover 80 Meters In the Air

Watch SpaceX launch its second cargo mission to the ISS, live on io9!

Everything We Know About Dennis Tito’s 2018 Human Mission to Mars

Go SpaceX Ladies, Go!

How Dennis Tito could send humans to Mars and back by 2020

NASA to launch inflatable cabins into space

SpaceX’s Grasshopper Rocket Takes Off and Lands Vertically and Can Also Hover

One small hop for SpaceX, a giant leap towards rocket reusability

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