SpaceX Considering Attempt At Landing Rocket On Land

SpaceX wants to make it cheaper to launch cargo and people into space in the future. One way to do this is to land the rockets used to push cargo off the ground so they can be reused rather than junked each time. SpaceX has tried several water-based landings using a floating barge and so far had no success.

Blue Origin, a competing private space firm, stepped up and successfully landed its rocket on land to be reused beating SpaceX to the punch. That feat by Blue Origin now has SpaceX considering trying to land its rocket on land.

According to one NASA official SpaceX may try that land-based rocket recovery this month. Carol Scott is the source and recently told reporters that the landing attempt for the launch set for later this month will happen at Cape Canaveral.

SpaceX hasn't made any official comments on the landing attempt. The company could certainly use a win after its rocket exploded before reaching the ISS a few months ago. NASA reportedly lost millions of dollars when the Falcon 9 rocket exploded taking the cargo with it. That rocket failure left NASA having to pay Russians to get supplies to the ISS.

SOURCE: Space.com