SpaceX’s returned booster rocket back in hangar

For SpaceX, the landing is being seen as a major achievement in its efforts to develop a version of the Falcon 9 that can be reused. “It is the first one we brought back”, said Elon Musk, the CEO and Chief Technology Officer of SpaceX.

Now he has announced on Twitter that there was no damage found on the rocket and it is now ready for its next flight. No damage found, ready to fire again.

Furthermore, Musk indicated at the media briefing that the near term fate of the recovered booster would likely be to serve as a pathfinder stage for use in a full fledged hold down, static hot fire test at historic Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. It was a bulls-eye touchdown, with the rocket settling on the center of the SpaceX logo at Landing Zone 1. Still, it would be confirmed through tests, which the company would be conducting in the future, whether or not it could fly again, added Musk.

SpaceX recovered the rocket December 21 during a return-to-flight mission that successfully placed 11 ORBCOMM communications satellites into low-Earth orbit. So, the company can donate the first stage to the National Collection. The recent launch used an upgraded Falcon 9 with more thrust and a different strut design. Another booster landing could occur as early as next month on a space station supply run for NASA.

Video caption: SpaceX Falcon 9 chance sighting as it was being transported to the new SpaceX Hanger located at the former LC39A Shuttle Launch Facility.

“I think we’ll probably keep this one on the ground just because it’s kind of unique”. A few new images of the recovered rocket have been posted as well. During that flight, the discarded first stage flew back to Cape Canaveral and landed on a large concrete pad. That part of the mission also went well, with all spacecraft achieving their intended orbits, SpaceX representatives said.