Contemporary · North America · Science
2015
Falcon 9 lands itself
December 21, 2015
After delivering eleven satellites to orbit, the first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket flipped, fired its engines, and set itself down upright on a Cape Canaveral landing pad. Elon Musk had been promising this for years and most of aerospace had laughed. The economics of space changed in eight minutes.
In context
Also in 2015 (8 other events on record)
- Paris Climate Agreement · Europe · Politics
- Same-sex marriage legalized in U.S. · North America · Politics
- Iran nuclear deal signed · Europe · Politics
- Paris attacks · Europe · War
- Charlie Hebdo attack · Europe · War
- New Horizons reaches Pluto · North America · Science
Before and after in North America
Before and after in Science
Era
Contemporary (2001–2026), one of 196 events from that era on Saeculum.
Sources