MCGREGOR -
SpaceX tested their vertical and takeoff and landing vehicle over the weekend at it's facility in McGregor. The vehicle, known as the Grasshopper, rose to more than 260 feet in the air and hovered 34 seconds before coming back down.
SpaceX hopes the Grasshopper will help them fully develop and rapidly reuse rockets. SpaceX engineers are testing the technology that would enable a launched rocket to land intact, rather than burning up upon reentry to the Earth's atmosphere.
This is Grasshopper's fourth test in a series of test flights. In each test, the Grasshopper has been able to increase in altitude. Last September, Grasshopper flew to 8.2 feet, in November, it flew to 17.7 feet and in December, it flew to 131 feet.
Grasshopper stands 10 stories tall and consists of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage tank, Merlin 1D engine, four steel and aluminum landing legs with hydraulic dampers, and a steel support structure.
