CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX's drone ship returned empty Thursday to Port Canaveral after the successful launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket, but failed booster barge landing.
After the rocket's debut launch Tuesday from Kennedy Space Center, two of the rocket's boosters safely landed back at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in tandem, only the center core didn't survive the return to Earth.
The middle booster missed the “drone ship” landing target and hit the Atlantic Ocean at about 300 mph, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said.
Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.This image from video provided by SpaceX shows the company's spacesuit in Elon Musk's red Tesla sports car which was launched into space during the first test flight of the Falcon Heavy rocket on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. (SpaceX via AP)This image from video provided by SpaceX shows the company's spacesuit in Elon Musk's red Tesla sports car which was launched into space during the first test flight of the Falcon Heavy rocket on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018.Excited launch watchers at Space View Park in Titusville, Fla. on Feb. 6, 2018. About 100,000 came out to watch the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch.Elon Musk, founder, CEO, and lead designer of SpaceX, speaks at a news conference after the Falcon 9 SpaceX heavy rocket launched successfully from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy vertical on Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018 seconds before launch.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy vertical on Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018 minutes before launch.Cars lined up to get into Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to view the Falcon Heavy launch on Feb. 6, 2018.No description foundFalcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.Falcon Heavy vertical on Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018 seconds before launch.Falcon Heavy vertical on Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018 seconds before launch.Falcon Heavy vertical on Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018 seconds before launch.Falcon Heavy vertical on Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018 seconds before launch.Falcon Heavy vertical on Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018 seconds before launch.Falcon Heavy vertical on Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018 minutes before launch.Falcon Heavy vertical on Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018 minutes before launch.
Falcon Heavy launches from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39A on Feb. 6, 2018.
Musk said the booster did not stick the landing after only one of three engines fired during a burn designed to line up the landing and slow the rocket’s descent.
The first stage missed the boat entirely, but the force of its water impact was enough to "take out" two engines on the nearby drone ship and spray it with debris.
Musk said he plans to release a "blooper reel" of the failed landing if the camera didn't "get blown up."
Meanwhile, the Falcon Heavy's test payload, Musk's own cherry red Tesla Roadster, continues on its journey into deep space. The three cameras mounted to the electric sports car provided beautiful views of the Earth's sphere.
Copyright 2018 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.
