On March 7 the SpaceX Grasshopper, a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle currently in development at the company’s McGregor, Texas, facility, completed a nearly 263-foot leap and hovered at that altitude for about 34 seconds before landing at the center of its launch pad. In addition to landing on its target, SpaceX said the Grasshopper’s thrust-to-weight ratio was greater than one as it returned to earth, a key developmental achievement for the vessel.
SpaceX Grasshopper Leaps Higher
Key Takeaways:
- SpaceX's Grasshopper vertical takeoff and landing vehicle successfully completed a 263-foot test flight, hovering for 34 seconds and landing accurately.
- A key achievement of the test was maintaining a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one during the vehicle's descent.
- The Grasshopper project aims to develop reusable rocket technology to significantly reduce space exploration costs.
- This fourth test flight demonstrated significant progress, doubling the altitude of its previous test and vastly improving upon its initial 6-foot hover.
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