SpaceX has successfully flown and landed a used booster for its CRS-13 resupply mission for the International Space Station (ISS):
SpaceX's first flight with a pre-flown booster for NASA was a success. After launch, SpaceX successfully touched down its used Falcon 9 rocket at the company's ground-based Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral. This marks the 14th landing SpaceX has pulled off this year, and the second time this particular vehicle has landed following take off. This is also their 17th launch of 2017.
[...] This morning's launch will carry nearly 4,800 pounds of cargo to the ISS. Included on board is a sensor designed to monitor how much space debris is surrounding the station, as well as another sensor that's supposed to measure how much sunlight reaches the Earth.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Sunday December 17 2017, @07:57AM
> Reusable heat shield protecting the engines and plumbing at the base of the rocket. I'd like to learn more about this one.
Given that the last two landings I watched (not this one) had fire at the bottom of the rocket right after touchdown, and considering they fall back through most of the atmosphere at supersonic speeds despite looking like a glorified brick, I'd really like to know more about the stresses that the shield is designed against. Anyone got any specs, or is that top secret ?