SpaceX released this image which shows the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket descending toward the ocean. According to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, the stage was intact just before touchdown but did not survive contact with the ocean. SpaceX plans to continue development of its recovery system, which will eventually return to the launch site for landing.
A statement on the SpaceX website says:
Though not a primary mission objective, SpaceX was also able to initiate two engine relights on the first stage. For the first restart burn, we lit three engines to do a supersonic retro propulsion, which we believe may be the first attempt by any rocket stage. The first restart burn was completed well and enabled the stage to survive reentering the atmosphere in a controlled fashion.
I expected this. There is a simple solution to fix it. It wish I could communicate how to fix it. I want SpaceX to make a LOT of money, and to lower launch cost to where any other way to orbit would be laughed at. It has a simple problem and a simple solution. I wish I could have talked to someone where about it before they developed their Falcon 9 1.1 but it is still an simple solution, and should give the F9 more payload while developing full both two stages quick reuse. The solution could fix a few related problems.
If you can’t communicate it, it’s an idea. Only if you can does it become a solution.