13th October 2013

SpaceX's Grasshopper flies half a mile high

The "Grasshopper" is an experimental reusable rocket being tested by SpaceX, whose founder is the billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. If successfully developed, it could dramatically cut the cost of space travel, with launch vehicles being reused instead of discarded and burning up on reentry. A total of eight tests have been conducted so far, with progressively higher and more difficult manoeuvres. This week, the Grasshopper completed its highest leap to date, reaching an altitude of 2,441 feet (744 m) before returning to the launch pad.

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