Focus on U.S. investment immigration and U.S. technology development: SpaceX, located in California, has recently announced that its "Grasshopper" rocket set a new record during a test earlier this month: the rocket ignited from the launch pad, flew to an altitude of 744 meters, and then vertically landed back on the launch pad.
This company released a video of the test conducted on the 7th, which lasted 78.8 seconds, and the rocket appeared intact after landing. The most significant difference between the "Grasshopper" and traditional launch rockets is its four steel-aluminum "legs" equipped with hydraulic dampers. These four "legs" allow the rocket to withstand the tremendous impact of landing vertically without sustaining severe damage.
SpaceX stated that the "Grasshopper" test is a "key step" in the company's development of a vertically landing, fully reusable launch rocket. The company is developing a reusable version of its "Falcon 9" rocket and successfully recovered part of the first stage of the "Falcon 9" during its most recent launch at the end of September this year.
Traditional launch rockets are single-use, falling back to the ground after launch, burning up in the atmosphere, leaving only some metal debris. In contrast, vertically landing launch rockets can be relaunched after minor repairs and refueling, significantly reducing launch costs.
SpaceX was founded in 2002 by billionaire Elon Musk with the goal of competing with government-led space agencies in the commercial launch market through low-cost rocket launches. It previously signed a $1.6 billion contract with NASA to launch cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station 12 times starting in October 2012. The company has undertaken satellite launch missions using the "Falcon 9" series of rockets and has contracted with NASA to transport astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station.
