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FOR THE FIRST time ever, an unmanned rocket has raced up to space and landed back to earth safely.
The 15-storey tall SpaceX rocket blasted off and delivered 11 small satellites into space before coming back down.
The feat could potentially be revolutionary for a space industry that is striving to drive down costs and open up space to more people.
Since the advent of space travel, rocket boosters have been completely disposable. Usually being dropped into the ocean as the shuttle or craft reaches orbit.
SpaceX has been trying to change that and has been delivering satellites to space and supplies to the International Space Station for some time.
Until now though, their efforts at bringing the new generation rockets back safely had been unsuccessful.
Billionaire owner Elon Musk could hardly contain his excitement.
It’s a revolutionary moment. No one has ever brought a booster, an orbital-class booster, back intact.
What’s significant is that this was a useful mission, Musk noted, not merely a practice flight.
“We achieved recovery of the rocket in a mission that actually deployed 11 satellites,” he said.
SpaceX employees broke into cheers and chants, some of them jumping up and down, following the smooth touchdown nine minutes after liftoff. Previous landing attempts ended in fiery blasts, but those aimed for an ocean platform.
Musk said he ran outside and heard the sonic boom of the returning booster just as it landed, he assumed it had exploded. He learned the happy truth when he went back into launch control and saw video of the standing rocket.
“I can’t quite believe it,” he said. “It’s quite shocking.”
Musk said the landing appeared close to perfect and the company “could not have asked for a better mission or a better day.”
The top officer at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brigadier General Wayne Monteith, noted that the returning booster “placed the exclamation mark on 2015.”
This was a first for us at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and I can’t even begin to describe the excitement the team feels right now having been a part of this historic first-stage rocket landing.
- With reporting from Associated Press
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As I was reading this article on President Higgins Leo came on the six one news. Flanked by army & police and aided by a signer he put out the same message as Michael D.
All this reminded me of the activities I observed on my travels of the leadership behind what was then caĺled the iron curtin over 30 years ago.
Posturing on the State expense account to portray an image of substance.
@Locojoe: You sound like a man with many decades of whinging and whining under his belt, well done.
@Ron North: Maybe you should travel a bit Ron. It might broaden your narrow little mind.
@Locojoe: a lot of it is about trying to look authorative and appear like they’re in control, something which FG are constantly trying to do but of course they actually have a lot less control than they’d like us to believe.
@Ron North: You get a thumbs up just for the Rogue Trooper logo. !
@Ron North: yep. Exactly, well said. The president would look like some tool if he didn’t do a thing!
@Locojoe: Yeah, what was that about – Leo flanked by a Garda, I think! What is he trying to do? He is so up his own backside.
@Locojoe: What absolute nonsense. Relax and have a beer.
Who, like that fool in for a swim in sandycove earlier? She should of been left go
@Noel James Doherty: some are born thick.
@Noel James Doherty: You wouldn’t have thrown her a lifebuoy?
@Brendan O’Brien: why would I have been on a pier to be able to throw that lifebuoy?
@Noel James Doherty: Somebody did: obviously a decent person. Lucky for her that you weren’t there instead,
@Noel James Doherty: some have mentioned she was washed in by a wave, but dont let that spoil your story…
@Noel James Doherty: HAVE BEEN
@Sighle A. Ni Chuana: sigh
@GerryCummins: sound
What the f..k does Michael D give for the people. He’s not in the loop for giving advice and is a former Labour TD.
@Paul Coughlan: he’s currently trying to establish himself as the main man for the second presidential term. That’s why he’s making these statements. Not able for a presidential election campaign but he’ll take 7 more years in the Phoenix park, thank you very much, from the old school class of Irish gombeen politics.
@Adrian: well said. And ordinary folk can’t go for election to president without political backing.
@Paul Coughlan: That’s because all the rest that went for the presidential election were complete muppets
President Higgins looked out the door of the Aras earlier saw seven inches of snow, and proclaims, quick call a press conference before all this stuff starts going over my head.
@Dae Monicus: A man living in a Huge empty house, mentions that there will still be a housing problem when the snow melts.
@Patricia McCarthy: Let me guess…he should open his doors to the homeless is it?
@Dae Monicus:
In that scenario, Brod and Shadow can get in some solid work practice and will be in their element as Alpine breeds!
On a serious note, our President’s advice is well worth heeding in eliminating unnecessary risks to personal safety from this once-in-a-generation type weather.
We cannot resume transport unless the roads are cleared and treated. Healthcare workers and emergency staff are overstretched, they need to be relieved by their colleagues, who cannot use the roads to travel, as it is unsafe to do so. Transport personnel cannot travel to work, to resume a service, if the roads aren’t a priority. Food deliveries cannot resume, if roads are impassable. Council staff cannot resume work, if roads are unsafe. Safety is a priority for everyone.
@aurilton: Agreed. It always amazes me that LAs grit and clear only the Primary roads. If they don’t grit or clear the Secondary and Tertiary roads out of housing estates etc., how is anybody expected to get to the Primary roads and to travel work?
Do not risk life or limb for a whatever you may have planned for tomorrow and that includes work.
You health and safety is more important!
Good to see the president earning his wages stating the bloody obvious
@Mark Dawson: earning his wages. Surely we have Leo, Eoghan, Simon and the rest of the FG ers out supporting the various status red orange and yellow. Murphy in his shirt sleeves and ordinary workers in the full uniforms. Taking political advantage of people’s misfortunes.
@Mark Dawson: all Politicians are the same always available for the photos and sound bites
Great advice from micky d before he gets trapped under the snow
It seems the exceptional risks are for businesses in jobstown.
What is Michael D on about after all the advice over the past week. Totally superfluous
Gosh!very worrisome.
I was wondering where Michael D has disappeared. Haven’t seen him for ages.
@Krystian Brzezowski: stuck in a snow drift
Such a shower of moaners and begrudgers and Whingers,f the lot of Ye
Down right keen powers of stating the obvious…
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