SpaceX plans to make another attempt to land Falcon 9 rocket on sea platform

After two failed attempts in 2015, SpaceX will make another attempt this month to land the Falcon 9 rocket on a sea platform. Recently, after a successful launch, the rocket was able to land upright on the mainland.

The launch will take place on January 17, The Verge reports. Launches normally take place from Cape Canaveral in Florida; however, the launch is now taking place from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Twice last year, the rocket failed to land undamaged on a sea platform. In December it was possible to land the rocket upright on the mainland, which should now also be possible at sea.

The advantage of landing at sea would be that it is not necessary to return all the way to a landing site on the mainland. That would just cost more fuel. By landing at sea, fuel consumption can be reduced, because an optimal landing spot can be chosen.

SpaceX will use a different variant of the Falcon 9 rocket from its previous successful landing, which is the latest version 1.1 version of the Falcon 9. The rocket is intended to launch NASA’s Jason-3 satellite into space. brings. This satellite will monitor the ocean’s surface and map circulation patterns.

The failed sea landing of April 14, 2015