23rd April 2013

SpaceX's Grasshopper flies 820 feet

SpaceX's Grasshopper continues to make progress. It has now conducted a fifth test, reaching 820 ft (250 m), more than 500 ft above its previous height. This launch was also performed in strong winds.

If successfully developed, this reusable rocket has the potential to revolutionise space travel – drastically reducing costs. For its next phase, SpaceX will begin propulsive-return over-water tests in both the Atlantic and Pacific, with heights increasing incrementally up to 11,500 ft (3,500 m).

2013 is turning out to be a significant year for rockets. Orbital Sciences Corporation (who, along with SpaceX, will be supplying the ISS) has just tested the Antares rocket, as covered in our previous blog. Later this year, SpaceX plans to test its Falcon Heavy – the most powerful rocket since the Saturn V, which took astronauts to the Moon.

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