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Re:SpaceX Successfully Launches and Lands Second Reused Rocket by will_hughes on Saturday June 24, 2017 @03:44AM (#14624772)
The STS was reusable in name only.

They discarded the fuel tank, and the SRBs landing in the ocean required a dive team and significant refurbishment before they could be reused. Even the shuttle itself required significant refurbishment before it could be reused.

Re:SpaceX Successfully Launches and Lands Second Reused Rocket by LoSboccacc on Saturday June 24, 2017 @04:14AM (#14624824)
True but the claim that Space X was the first company to ever think about reusable space vectors is laughable at best.
Re:SpaceX Successfully Launches and Lands Second Reused Rocket by imron on Saturday June 24, 2017 @04:24AM (#14624848)
No-one claimed that.
Re:SpaceX Successfully Launches and Lands Second Reused Rocket by babyrainbow on Saturday June 24, 2017 @08:43AM (#14625399)
But everyone is acting like that.

I mean, isn't it the oldest trick in the pr/advertisement process. To create an impression without actually claiming anything.

Interesting.

Re:SpaceX Successfully Launches and Lands Second Reused Rocket by SimbaOnSteroids on Saturday June 24, 2017 @09:14AM (#14625468)
I mean yes it can be, but this isn't really an instance of that. What SpaceX has done is create a reusable booster which lands using retrograde rockets. This is a big deal because with retrograde rockets you can land the thing with precision and upright. Whereas with parachutes you'd end up having a high probability that the rocket would land in a precarious position because it's then at the mercy of the wind much more than the retrograde landing is.

It's kinda like well no Henry Ford didn't invent the car, but he made the car affordable. Heck he didn't even invent the assembly line but he sure did use it in a different way.

Elon is doing to the rocket industry what Ford did to the car industry. Making it more accessible.

Re:SpaceX Successfully Launches and Lands Second Reused Rocket by eduren on Saturday June 24, 2017 @11:55AM (#14625991)
Not to mention that getting good at retrograde landings will be necessary for landing on other bodies in the solar system.