SpaceX's Grasshopper on the Launch Pad

SpaceX's Grasshopper Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicle stands ready to launch on its 820-foot (250 meters) test flight on April 19, 2013.

SpaceX's Grasshopper Takes Off on 820-Foot Flight

SpaceX's Grasshopper 10-story Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicle took off on its 820-foot (250 meters) test flight on April 19, 2013.

paceX's Grasshopper 820-Foot Test Flight Hovering

SpaceX's Grasshopper 10-story Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicle reached new heights on April 19, 2013.

SpaceX's Grasshopper 820-Foot Flight

SpaceX's Grasshopper vehicle flew 820 feet, tripling its March 7th leap. The rocket is seen here at the moment of landing, still in vertical attitude, with a ring of smoke and dust kicked up by the engines. Test conducted April 19, 2013.

SpaceX's Grasshopper Rocket Makes Highest Leap Yet

SpaceX's reusable rocket prototype Grasshopper soared 820 feet (250 meters) into the air on April 19, 2013. A tiny "hexacopter" probe, which took footage of the flight, is visible as a black speck slightly above and to the left of the rocket in this picture.

SpaceX Grasshopper Rocket's Highest Test: March 7, 2013

On March 7, 2013, SpaceX’s Grasshopper doubled its highest leap to date to rise 24 stories or 262.8 feet (80.1 meters), hovering for approximately 34 seconds and landing safely using closed loop thrust vector and throttle control.

SpaceX's Grasshopper Lifts Off

On March 7, 2013, SpaceX’s Grasshopper doubled its highest leap to date to rise 24 stories or 262.8 feet (80.1 meters), hovering for approximately 34 seconds and landing safely using closed loop thrust vector and throttle control.

SpaceX's Grasshopper Test Flight

On March 7, 2013, SpaceX’s Grasshopper doubled its highest leap to date to rise 24 stories or 262.8 feet (80.1 meters), hovering for approximately 34 seconds and landing safely using closed loop thrust vector and throttle control.

SpaceX's Grasshopper: Dec. 17, 2012

The SpaceX Grasshopper rocket prototype vertically launched and landed in its most impressive test flight to date on Dec. 17.

SpaceX's Grasshopper

Grasshopper consists of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage, Merlin 1D engine, four steel landing legs with hydraulic dampers, and a steel support structure. For a sense of its scale, note the blue pick-up truck to the left of Grasshopper in the photo above.

SpaceX Grasshopper 2nd Test Flight

SpaceX's Grasshopper vertical takeoff and landing test vehicle (VTVL) hops nearly two stories (17.7 feet/5.4 meters) during a Nov. 1, 2012 test flight.

SpaceX's Grasshopper Rocket: 1st Flight

The reusable rocket prototype Grasshopper built by private spaceflight company SpaceX makes a 6-foot test flight on Sept. 28, 2012.

Mannequin Cowboy on SpaceX's Grasshopper Rocket

A mannequin cowboy dressed in black, nicknamed Johnny, rode SpaceX's Grasshopper reusable rocket during its highest ever test flight on March 7, 2013. The flight in Texas reached a height of 263 feet (80 meters).

SpaceX's Grasshopper, the Amazing Reusable Rocket (Photos)

Date: 23 April 2013 Time: 12:27 PM ET
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