SpaceX will attempt Sunday to boldly send a rocket where none has gone before: safely back to Earth.
The California-based company, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., is the when it comes to ferrying supplies to and from space for the U.S. government.
SpaceX on Sunday will make its third attempt to land its Falcon9 rocket on an ocean-based platform after the rocket takes off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., enters low orbit and jettisons its cargo-loaded Dragon spacecraft for the International Space Station.
A successful landing could revolutionize space flight, Until now, rockets have been used only once and are destroyed on re-entry, despite representing the bulk of the launch cost. SpaceX compares that practice to disposal of a jumbo jet after one transcontinental flight.
The attempt, which will be streamed live online, will begin with takeoff at 8:21 a.m. MDT.
Matthew Nussbaum: 303-954-1666, mnussbaum@denverpost.com or twitter.com/MatthewNussbaum
