Tuesday saw SpaceX come agonizingly close to landing its reusable Falcon 9 rocket on a barge at sea, and the released footage (below) made the failed attempt seem somehow serene; the rocket drifts into view and floats onto its target like a sycamore seed before toppling over in slow motion.
SpaceX’s near-miss barge landing is even more dramatic in this alleged GoPro footage
But in this unverified new video (above), which appeared on Reddit and allegedly came from a GoPro camera mounted on the barge itself, the explosive reality of the events are thrown into sharp relief. You can see how the rocket overcompensates for its off-balance approach before meeting a fiery end as it comes down on the barge. SpaceX is making big advances with its Falcon 9 rocket, but this video gives a better idea of just how complex the physics are that Elon Musk and company have to wrestle with.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and COO, told DefenseNews Wednesday that the company’s next attempt is likely to occur on land in order to give the target extra stability.
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