SpaceX successfully returns to flight, lands first stage of rocket

In its return to flight mission after losing a vehicle in June, Elon Musk’s SpaceX not only launched 11 satellites into orbit, but successfully landed the stage one of its Falcon 9 rocket safely at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

This is a big deal because the majority of the cost of flying a mission to space is associated with the rocket itself. SpaceX has commented that each Falcon 9 vehicle costs around $16 million to manufacture, but the fuel costs just $200,000 or so. Of course, there’s a cost to rehabbing the rocket and launching, but having a vehicle that can be reused should bring the cost down for future missions significantly. This particular rocket probably won’t fly again, but it’s still an exciting step.