Vertical takeoff and landing vehicle: 12-story Takeoff

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Multi-Angle: Grasshopper 12-Story Test Flight 12/17/12

SpaceX's Grasshopper takes a 12-story leap towards full and rapid rocket reusability in a test flight conducted December 17, 2012 at SpaceX's rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas. Grasshopper, a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTVL), rose 131 feet (40 meters), hovered and landed safely on the pad using closed loop thrust vector and throttle control. The total test duration was 29 seconds. Grasshopper stands 10 stories tall and consists of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage, Merlin 1D engine, four steel landing legs with hydraulic dampers, and a steel support structure.
Stormsingersays...

A stretch? Not really. They're not planning to land the entire rocket that launched, only the second stage. Of course it'll cut into the operational payload, but at least some of that loss will be made up by the economy of landing at the same spaceport you'll be taking off from next flight.

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