Private spaceflight company SpaceX has been testing reusable rockets to lower the cost of space missions, and over the next two months, the company will attempt the landing of Falcon 9 rockets on a drone spaceport.
The landings are schedule for this year December 16 and January 23, 2015.
While most rockets can be used only once, SpaceX rockets are designed to return to the launch pad by way of vertical landing. SpaceX has also developed a drone ship for rockets that land at sea. The ship is 300 feet long and 100 feet wide, with wings that can extend the landing surface to 170 feet, Popsci reported.
The ship is equipped with thrusters which should keep the rocket within three meters of its position during a storm.
If the test landings are successful, the landing pad will refuel the rockets so that SpaceX will be able to transport them back to the mainland for another launch.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says the odds of a successful landing for this particular flight are about 50 percent.
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