The private space firm founded by Internet entrepreneur Jeff Bezos claimed a breakthrough for its space travel efforts Tuesday with the launch of a reusable rocket.
Bezos announced the milestone with his first Twitter message following the launch and return of the rocket by his firm, Blue Origin.
“The rarest of beasts — a used rocket. Controlled landing not easy, but done right, can look easy. Check out video,” said the tweet, with a link to a YouTube video.
The unmanned New Shepard rocket blasted off from its west Texas launch site and then returned and landed safely, representing a coup for spaceflight.
“Rockets have always been expendable. Not anymore,” Bezos said in a blog post on the Blue Origin website.
Bezos told CBS This Morning that the successful launch and return is a major step toward enabling space travel.
“That’s a game-changer because it changes the cost structure of space travel completely,” he said.
“Our long term vision is millions of people living and working in space and continuing to explore the solar system and reusability is a total game changer for that.”