[NRV Rocketry] SpaceX continues to amaze!

[Charles Albright]

Fellow rocketeers,

All I can say is WOW!

If you haven't yet seen these recent videos, by all means take a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz-NYeH-CEY&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4PEXLODw9c&feature=youtu.be

Words from SpaceX:

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SPACEX'S GRASSHOPPER TAKES GIANT LEAP TOWARDS REUSABILITY WITH 12-STORY
FLIGHT

SpaceX's Grasshopper took a 12-story leap towards full and rapid rocket
reusability in a test flight conducted December 17, 2012 at SpaceX's rocket
development facility in McGregor, Texas.

Grasshopper, SpaceX's vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTVL), rose 131
feet (40 meters), hovered and landed safely on the pad using closed loop
thrust vector and throttle control. The total test duration was 29 seconds.

Grasshopper stands 10 stories tall and consists of a Falcon 9 rocket first
stage, Merlin 1D engine, four steel landing legs with hydraulic dampers, and
a steel support structure.

The 12-story flight marks a significant increase over the height and length
of hover of Grasshopper's previous test flights, which took place earlier
this fall. In September, Grasshopper flew to 1.8 meters (6 feet), and in
November, it flew to 5.4 meters (17.7 feet/2 stories) including a brief
hover.

Testing of Grasshopper will continue with successively more sophisticated
flights expected over the next several months.

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I hope you enjoy the videos.

Charley