As I wrote in early November, the SpaceX Grasshopper project will be making increasing longer "hops" as the company works through the process of developing "full and rapid rocket reusability". The goal being to maximize reuse - in order to lower costs - and to do so in a manner that will allow the rocket to be rapidly readied for subsequent flights.
The rocket will utilize vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTVL) capabilities that rely on sophisticated closed loop thrust vector and throttle control systems. The most recent test, conducted on December 17th, lasted 29 seconds with the rocket rising 131 feet (40 meters) - equivalent to 12 stories - before hovering and landing safely on the pad. Quite a feat considering the rocket itself is 10 stories tall. The video is below, and the press release is on SpaceX's update site.
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