SpaceX releases footage of failed rocket landing test

SpaceX has released a Vine of its Falcon 9 booster crashing, and it's mesmerizing.

The Falcon 9 experienced a successful launch to the space station on Jan. 10, but its attempt to land on a floating barge afterwards was less successful. The booster located the barge and targeted it for its landing, but its fins ran out of hydraulic fluid, so it crashed and exploded.

Elon Musk, for his part, took a jocular tone about the crash, tweeting that at least during the next landing test, it will "explode for a diff[erent] reason," since it will have more fuel. Musk added that the company will try another launch in two to three weeks.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up