SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Landing Revolutionizes Launch Industry

On December 21, 2015, SpaceX launched the Orbcomm-2 mission on an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket, achieving a historic first by successfully landing the rocket's first stage. This milestone was detailed in the book Reentry, authored by Ars Technica Senior Space Editor Eric Berger, published in 2024.

The narrative begins in June 2015 with the tragedy of the CRS-7 mission, where a Falcon 9 rocket disintegrated shortly after launch. David Giger, who managed the entire Dragon program and reported directly to Elon Musk, witnessed the launch from mission control in Hawthorne.

Following the destruction of CRS-7, Giger observed that Dragon continued to transmit data, despite the rocket's breakup. The team, comprised mostly of younger engineers, was initially stunned, as many had previously experienced failures during early missions.

Giger recognized the urgency of saving the Dragon, which was flying thirty miles above the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX had not prepared for such a scenario, as the Falcon 9 had never been lost before. Controllers in California worked frantically to establish communications with Dragon, attempting to command its drogue parachutes to open.

However, the command failed as Dragon continued its descent, and the data transmission ceased less than a mile above the ocean surface, resulting in the loss of the spacecraft and its 4,000 pounds of cargo.