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Falcon 9 Rocket Landing on 14:32 - Feb 20 by FrowsyArmLarry
Saw that. Am I right in thinking the reason behind the technology is so we can land people on Mars?
I think it's mainly so they can make putting satellites into orbit much cheaper, so that they can turn a profit, so that they can develop other projects. See:
" SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is meant to launch payloads – such as satellites and cargo – into orbit around Earth and beyond. It's why the rocket's shape is so thin and tall; it creates less drag on the vehicle, allowing it to break free from the atmosphere more easily and go deeper into space. But such a shape also makes it much harder for the rocket to land upright back on Earth. The engines on the bottom of the rocket help to orient it vertically during descent, but it's almost like dropping a lead pipe from the roof and having it land on its end. The rocket is prone to tilt and fall over."