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A comment on SpaceX Falcon rocket explodes on landing after delivering satellite to space. Parent comment

Re:SpaceX Falcon rocket explodes on landing after delivering... by el_zorro on Monday January 18, 2016 @10:04AM (#10924744)
The utility here is not really landing on other planets, but instead the order of magnitude decrease in launch costs if they don't have to build a new first stage for every launch.
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Re:SpaceX Falcon rocket explodes on landing after delivering... by dchesterton on Monday January 18, 2016 @10:35AM (#10924927)
This could theoretically be achieved by either means. The question was specifically why a vertical landing is favoured over a cushioned inflatable landing.

Musk has stated in the past that they're looking to eventually use this tech to create rockets which can be used on Mars, hence why parachutes and inflatables are out of the question.

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Re:SpaceX Falcon rocket explodes on landing after delivering... by ansible on Monday January 18, 2016 @05:34PM (#10927506)
Parachutes also have the problem that you can't as easily control the landing point.
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