Click the arrow to watch the landing. Video source: SpaceX YouTube channel.
It took five tries on both American coasts, but SpaceX finally landed a Falcon 9 first stage on its Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS), whimsically named Of Course I Still Love You.
It was the metaphorical exclamation point on an historic day that saw the launch of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), which is the prototype for what could be the next-generation space stations used in low Earth orbit and beyond.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said in the post-launch media event that the ASDS may return to Port Canaveral, although it may go elsewhere first. SpaceX in the past has berthed its ASDS at the seaport in Jacksonville.
President Obama took note of the achievement with this tweet.
Congrats SpaceX on landing a rocket at sea. It's because of innovators like you & NASA that America continues to lead in space exploration.
— President Obama (@POTUS) April 8, 2016
For me, the President's message was topped by this tweet.
to recap: a rocket just send an inflatable house into space and then landed on the ocean. welcome to the future. #spacex
— Maddie Stone (@themadstone) April 8, 2016
Click the arrow to watch the launch webcast. Video source: SpaceX YouTube channel.
Click the arrow to watch the post-launch media event. Video source: NASA YouTube channel.
Onboard camera view of landing in high winds
Posted by SpaceX on Friday, April 8, 2016
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