SpaceX Grasshopper Rocket Launches 1000 Feet into the Air and Lands (Video)

SpaceX hopes to launch visitors into space, sending them into orbit on brief trips or extended stays. Yet in order to do so, the company needs to develop a way to ferry passengers there in the first place. That's why it's continuing to test its reusable Grasshopper rocket, finding out exactly how it can be used to safely convey visitors into orbit.

On June 14, SpaceX conducted a test of its Grasshopper rocket and released a video of its stellar flight. According to the company, the rocket soared over 1,000 feet into the air before making a precise landing back on its launchpad. The test was a success, revealing that the Grasshopper could be used as part of future space flights.

The rocket itself is actually a 10-story Vertical Takeoff, Vertical Landing rocket, according to Gizmodo. It's cobbled together from different parts of other space vehicles, including a Falcon 9 rocket first stage tank and Merlin 1D engine. Despite the fact that it's a patchwork of components, though, the Grasshopper seems to be quite adept at what it's meant to do--mostly thanks to a new navigation sensor.

The navigation sensor was what really made the latest test a success. It provided addition detail about the rocket's relation to the ground beneath it, according to The Verge. This, in turn, allowed the rocket to have the precision it needed in order to shoot straight into the air, hover a few moments, and then come back down to Earth in roughly the same location where it took off. Previous Grasshopper tests relied on the other rocket sensors, which made it far less accurate. Just four months ago, the rocket had yet to reach 300 feet.

Want to see the rocket blast off for yourself? Check out the video below, courtesy of SpaceX and YouTube.