spacetoday.net: SpaceX performs Grasshopper test flight

Posted: Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 7:48 AM ET (1148 GMT)
SpaceX Grasshopper flight March 2013 (SpaceX)

SpaceX performed the fourth flights of a reusable launch vehicle technology demonstrator last week, flying the vehicle to a record height. The Grasshopper vehicle flew to an altitude of 80 meters during the 34-second test flight, which took place March 7 at the company's test facility near McGregor, Texas. The vehicle, based on a Falcon 9 first stage with a single Merlin engine and landing legs, takes off and lands vertically, and is designed to test technologies the company hopes to incorporate into a future reusable version of the Falcon 9. The company plans to perform higher and faster test flights of the vehicle in the coming months.