HAWTHORNE, Calif. – SpaceX has released dramatic footage of its booster rocket trying to land on a floating ocean barge after a launch – an unprecedented attempt that ended in a fiery explosion.
The video released Friday shows the 14-story rocket hitting the football field-sized barge at an angle, lighting up the night sky off the Florida coast.
Saturday’s landing attempt came minutes after the Falcon 9 rocket launched a load of supplies to the International Space Station. The first stage peeled away and flew to the barge.
After the loss, SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted: “Close, but no cigar this time.” He tweeted this week that the rocket’s legs and engine section were smashed.
The Southern California-based company attempted the touchdown because it wants to launch reusable rockets to bring down costs.
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