View source for Engineering:Grasshopper (rocket)

[[File:Spx Grasshopper 03.jpg|thumb|Grasshopper v1.0 in September 2012]]
'''Grasshopper''' and the '''Falcon 9 Reusable Development Vehicles''' ('''F9R Dev''') were experimental [[Engineering:Flight test|flight test]] [[Astronomy:Reusable launch system|reusable rockets]] that performed [[Engineering:VTVL|vertical takeoffs and landings]].<ref name=satspot20110926/> The project was privately funded by [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]], with no funds provided by any government until later on.<ref name=AtlanticCouncil20140604/> Two prototypes were built, and both were launched from the ground.<ref name=pm20120207/>

Grasshopper was announced in 2011<ref name=rlvstnews20111012/> and began low-altitude, low-velocity hover/landing testing in 2012.  The initial Grasshopper test vehicle was {{convert|106|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall and made eight successful test flights in 2012 and 2013 before being retired. A second Grasshopper-class prototype was the larger and more capable Falcon 9 Reusable Development Vehicle (F9R Dev, also known as F9R Dev1) based on the [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.1|Falcon 9 v1.1]] launch vehicle. It was tested at higher altitudes and was capable of much higher velocity but was never tested at high velocity.  The F9R Dev1 vehicle was built in 2013–2014 and made its first low-altitude flight test on 17 April 2014; it was lost during a three-engine test at the McGregor test site on 22 August 2014,<ref name=tweet>{{cite web|author=Elon Musk|title=Three engine F9R Dev1 vehicle auto-terminated during test flight|url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/statuses/502974683864518657|publisher=[[Company:Twitter|Twitter]]|date=August 22, 2014|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824191749/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/statuses/502974683864518657|archive-date=August 24, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> which ended the low-velocity test program. Further expansion of the [[Engineering:Flight envelope|flight test envelope]] for the reusable rocket was moved to [[Engineering:SpaceX reusable launch system development program|descending Falcon 9 boosters that had been used on orbital flight trajectories]] on commercial orbital flights of the Falcon 9.

The Grasshopper and F9R Dev tests were fundamental to the development of the reusable [[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] and [[Engineering:Falcon Heavy|Falcon Heavy]] rockets, which require vertical landings of the near-empty [[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] and [[Engineering:Falcon Heavy|Falcon Heavy]] first-stage booster tanks and engine assemblies. The Grasshopper and the F9R Dev tests led into a series of [[Engineering:Falcon 9 first-stage landing tests|high-altitude, high-speed controlled-descent tests of post-mission (spent) Falcon 9 booster stages]] that accompanied the commercial Falcon 9 missions since September 2013. The latter eventually resulted in the first successful booster landing on 21 December 2015.

==History==
[[File:SpaceX Grasshopper rocket midflight.png|thumb|Grasshopper rocket performing a 325-meter flight followed by a soft propulsive landing in an attempt to develop technologies for a reusable launch vehicle.]]

The Grasshopper technology demonstrator first became known publicly in the third quarter of 2011, when space journalists first wrote about it after analyzing space launch regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration.<ref name=satspot20110926/>

Shortly thereafter, SpaceX confirmed the existence of the test vehicle development program, and projected it would begin the Grasshopper flight test program in 2012.<ref name=rlvstnews20111012>{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Clark |title=Grasshopper news |url=http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=33072 |accessdate=2011-11-23 |newspaper=RLV and Space Transport News |date=2011-10-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118200035/http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=33072 |archivedate=2011-11-18 }}</ref><ref name=sfn20120709>{{cite news |title=Reusable rocket prototype almost ready for first liftoff |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1207/10grasshopper/ |accessdate=2012-07-13 |newspaper=Spaceflight Now |date=2012-07-09 |quote=''SpaceX has constructed a half-acre concrete launch facility in McGregor, and the Grasshopper rocket is already standing on the pad, outfitted with four insect-like silver landing legs.'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116131506/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1207/10grasshopper/ |archive-date=2016-11-16 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Releases of public information in 2011 indicated that the subsonic tests would occur in McGregor, Texas in three phases, at maximum flight altitudes of {{convert|670|to|11500|ft|m|abbr=on}}, for durations of {{convert|45|to|160|s|min|abbr=on}}. At the time, testing was expected to take up to three years and the initial FAA permit allows up to 70 suborbital launches per year.<ref name="satspot20110926" /><ref name="faa201109">{{cite web |title=Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing an Experimental Permit to SpaceX for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the McGregor Test Site, Texas |url=http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/20110922%20SpaceX%20Grasshopper%20Draft%20EA.Final.pdf |year=2011 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration |accessdate=2011-11-24 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6GIwUSuqs?url=http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/20110922%20SpaceX%20Grasshopper%20Draft%20EA.Final.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-02 |url-status=live }}</ref>
A half-acre concrete launch facility was constructed to support the test flight program.<ref name="sfn20120709" /> In September 2012, SpaceX announced that they have requested FAA approval to increase the altitude of some of the initial test flights.<ref name="nsw20120917">{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Clark |title=SpaceX Grasshopper tests aim to quickly move up in altitude |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-grasshopper-tests-aim-to-quickly-move-up-in-altitude.html |accessdate=2012-09-17 |newspaper=NewSpace Watch |date=2012-09-17 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928162658/https://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-grasshopper-tests-aim-to-quickly-move-up-in-altitude.html |archive-date=2014-09-28 |url-status=live }}</ref> Looking forward to the next year, CEO Musk said in November 2012:  "Over the next few months, we’ll gradually increase the altitude and speed. ... I do think there probably will be some craters along the way; we’ll be very lucky if there are no craters. Vertical landing is an extremely important breakthrough — extreme, rapid reusability."<ref name="sdc20121123">{{cite news |last=Coppinger |first=Rod |title=Huge Mars Colony Eyed by SpaceX Founder Elon Musk |url=http://www.space.com/18596-mars-colony-spacex-elon-musk.html |accessdate=2012-11-25 |newspaper=Space.com |date=2012-11-23 |quote='''' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628154029/http://www.space.com/18596-mars-colony-spacex-elon-musk.html |archive-date=2013-06-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2013, SpaceX announced that the higher-altitude, higher-velocity part of the Grasshopper flight test program would be done at [[Engineering:Spaceport America|Spaceport America]] near Las Cruces, New Mexico—and not at the Federal Government's adjacent White Sands Missile Range facility as previously planned<ref name="pm20120207" /><ref name="sfn20120924" /><ref name="nsw20130507" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Reusable rocket prototype almost ready for first liftoff |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1207/10grasshopper/ |year=2012 |website=Spaceflightnow.com |accessdate=2012-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116131506/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1207/10grasshopper/ |archive-date=2016-11-16 |url-status=live }}</ref>—and signed a three-year lease for land and facilities at the recently operational spaceport.<ref name="nsw20130507">{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Clark |title=SpaceX to test Grasshopper reusable booster at Spaceport America in NM |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-to-test-grasshopper-reusable-booster-at-spaceport-america-in-nm.html |accessdate=2013-05-07 |newspaper=NewSpace Watch |date=2013-05-07 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118124357/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-to-test-grasshopper-reusable-booster-at-spaceport-america-in-nm.html |archive-date=2015-01-18 |url-status=live }}</ref> SpaceX indicated in May 2013 that they did not yet know how many jobs might move from Texas to New Mexico.<ref name="wt20130507">{{cite news |last=Abbot |first=Joseph |title=SpaceX moving Grasshopper testing to New Mexico |url=http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/spacex-moving-grasshopper-testing-to-new-mexico/article_34e2f2f6-b754-11e2-aa32-001a4bcf887a.html |accessdate=2013-05-08 |newspaper=Waco Tribune |date=2013-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231212056/http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/spacex-moving-grasshopper-testing-to-new-mexico/article_34e2f2f6-b754-11e2-aa32-001a4bcf887a.html |archive-date=2017-12-31 |url-status=live }}</ref>

SpaceX began constructing a {{convert|30|x|30|m|ft|abbr=on}} pad at Spaceport America in May 2013, {{convert|7|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of the spaceport's main campus, planning to lease the pad for {{USD|6,600}} per month plus {{USD|25,000}} per test flight.<ref name=sn20130513>{{cite news |last=Leone|first=Dan |title=SpaceX Leases Pad in New Mexico for Next Grasshopper Tests |url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/35306spacex-leases-pad-in-new-mexico-for-next-grasshopper-tests#.Uf0JMtLOvgQ |accessdate=2013-08-03 |newspaper=SpaceNews |date=2013-05-13 }}</ref>

== Description ==
=== Grasshopper ===
Grasshopper consisted of "a [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.0|Falcon 9]] [v1.0] first-stage tank, a single Merlin-1D engine" with a height of {{convert|106|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref name=satspot20110926>{{cite news |last=Mohney |first=Doug |title=SpaceX Plans to Test Reusable Suborbital VTVL Rocket in Texas |url=http://satellite.tmcnet.com/topics/satellite/articles/222324-spacex-plans-test-reusable-suborbital-vtvl-rocket-texas.htm |accessdate=2012-12-30 |newspaper=Satellite Spotlight |date=2011-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804024136/http://satellite.tmcnet.com/topics/satellite/articles/222324-spacex-plans-test-reusable-suborbital-vtvl-rocket-texas.htm |archive-date=2016-08-04 |url-status=live }}</ref> The landing gear was fixed.

=== F9R Dev1 ===

F9R Dev1 was constructed out of the used first-stage tank of the [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.1|Falcon 9 v1.1]],<ref name=nbf20130323/> so it was 160-foot tall,<ref name=nsf20140422/> nearly 50% longer than the first Grasshopper.<ref name="nsw20121002" /> The landing legs were retractable by design, with a telescoping piston mounted on an A-frame.  The total span of the four legs was approximately {{convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} and the weight less than {{convert|2100|kg|lb|abbr=on}}; the deployment system used high-pressure [[Chemistry:Helium|helium]].<ref name=musk20130502>{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Clark |title=SpaceX shows a leg for the "F-niner" |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-shows-a-leg-for-the-quotf-ninerquot.html |date=2013-05-02 |accessdate=2013-05-02 |quote=''F9R (pronounced F-niner) shows a little leg. Design is a nested, telescoping piston w A frame... High pressure helium. Needs to be ultra light.'' |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525000647/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-shows-a-leg-for-the-quotf-ninerquot.html |archive-date=2013-05-25 |url-status=live }}</ref> The legs had less weight than on the first Grasshopper. The F9R Dev1 had a different engine bay than the first Grasshopper vehicle.<ref name="nsw20121002">{{cite news |title=A 2nd-gen Grasshopper + A new video of first hop |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/a-2nd-gen-grasshopper-a-new-video-of-first-hop.html |accessdate=2012-11-04 |newspaper=NewSpace Watch |date=2012-10-02 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The F9R Dev1 vehicle in Texas was intended to take off and accelerate with three engines—as the test flight never needs the full thrust to take off a fully loaded Falcon 9 with an orbital payload—while completing the descent and landing with only one engine.<ref name="wt20140417" /> The original Grasshopper had flown exclusively with only a single Merlin 1D engine in place, the center engine which is planned to be used to complete the last phase of the deceleration and [[Engineering:VTVL|vertical landing]].

=== F9R Dev2 (never flown) ===

A third flight test vehicle—F9R Dev2—was initially planned to be flown only at the high-altitude test range at Spaceport America<ref name="nsw20130507" /><ref name="AtlanticCouncil20140604">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc |title=Discussion with Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX |publisher=Atlantic Council |first=Gwynne |last=Shotwell |time=22:35–26:20 |date=June 4, 2014 |accessdate=June 9, 2014 |quote=''This technology element [reusable launch vehicle technology] all this innovation is being done by SpaceX alone, no one is paying us to do it.  The government is very interested in the data we are collecting on this test series. ...  This is the kind of thing that entrepreneurial investment and new entrants/innovators can do for an industry:  fund their own improvements, both in the quality of their programs and the quality of their hardware, and the speed and cadence of their operations.'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125082949/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc |archive-date=January 25, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and at altitudes of up to {{convert|300000|ft|order=flip|sp=us}}.<ref name="nsf20140422" /><ref name="aw20140428" /><ref name="nbf20130323" /> In September 2014, following the destruction of the F9R Dev1, SpaceX changed the plans, so the F9R Dev2 vehicle would fly first in McGregor for low-altitude testing. The initial FAA permit to fly the Falcon 9 Reusable Development Vehicle at McGregor in Texas was open until February 2015.<ref name="faa20140423">{{cite web |title=Commercial Space Data / Active Permits |url=http://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/permits/ |work=FAA Data & Research |publisher=U.S. Federal Aviation Administration |accessdate=2014-04-23 |quote=Permit no. EP 14-010, Company: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Vehicle: Falcon 9-R, Location: Texas, Expiration: Feb 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502060659/http://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/permits/ |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 19 February 2015 SpaceX announced that the F9R Dev2 would be discontinued.<ref name=sen-20150219>{{cite web |url=http://sen.com/blogs/irene-klotz/spacex-bypassing-replacement-for-lost-falcon-9r-landing-test-vehicle |title=SpaceX bypassing replacement for lost Falcon 9R landing test vehicle |last=Klotz |first=Irene |work=Portal to the Universe |via=SEN |date=19 February 2015 |access-date=13 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314104444/http://sen.com/blogs/irene-klotz/spacex-bypassing-replacement-for-lost-falcon-9r-landing-test-vehicle |archive-date=14 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>  

During April 2015, SpaceX performed tanking tests on the In-Flight Abort rocket on the {{wipe|Vandenberg Air Force Base}} SLC-4E. Since this rocket only had three Merlin 1D engines, and the New Mexico site was to have been used for testing the returned first stages, it was speculated that the discontinued F9R Dev2 was re-purposed as the launch vehicle in the In-Flight Abort Test.<ref name=nsf20150410>{{cite web | url = http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/spacex-tanking-tests-in-flight-abort-falcon-9/ | title = SpaceX conducts tanking test on In-Flight Abort Falcon 9 | last1 = Bergin | first1 = Chris | publisher = nasaspaceflight.com | date = 2015-04-10 | accessdate = 2015-05-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150504121946/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/spacex-tanking-tests-in-flight-abort-falcon-9/ | archive-date = 2015-05-04 | url-status = live }}</ref>

In May 2015, a press article stated that due to the technical success of many aspects of the booster rocket landing attempts on the sea and on the [[Engineering:Autonomous spaceport drone ship|ASDS]], SpaceX was planning on using the New Mexico site for testing the returned stages.<ref name=nsf20150319>{{cite web | url = http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/spaceport-america-spacex-reusability-testing/ | title = Spaceport America set for SpaceX reusability testing | last1 = Bergin | first1 = Chris | publisher = nasaspaceflight.com | date = 2015-03-19 | accessdate = 2015-05-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150513021458/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/spaceport-america-spacex-reusability-testing/ | archive-date = 2015-05-13 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=wt20140912>{{cite news |last1=Abbott |first1=Joseph |title=SpaceX updates: Launch moved to Sept. 20; new test rocket may arrive in 2 months |url=http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/spacex-updates-launch-moved-to-sept-new-test-rocket-may/article_0bca4dea-3abd-11e4-80c7-831230b94b83.html |accessdate=2014-09-13 |work=Waco Tribune |date=2014-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231144049/https://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/spacex-updates-launch-moved-to-sept-new-test-rocket-may/article_0bca4dea-3abd-11e4-80c7-831230b94b83.html |archive-date=2018-12-31 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Flight testing ==

=== Grasshopper flight tests ===
The first [[Engineering:VTVL|VTVL]] flight test vehicle—Grasshopper, built on a [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.0|Falcon 9 v1.0]] first-stage tank—made a total of eight [[Engineering:Flight test|test flights]] between September 2012 and October 2013.<ref name="sn20131017">{{cite news |last=Klotz|first=Irene |title=SpaceX Retires Grasshopper, New Test Rig To Fly in December |url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/37740spacex-retires-grasshopper-new-test-rig-to-fly-in-december |accessdate=2013-10-21 |newspaper=Space News |date=2013-10-17 }}</ref>  All eight flights were from the McGregor, Texas test facility.

Grasshopper began flight testing in September 2012 with a brief, three-second hop, followed by a second hop in November 2012 with an 8-second flight that took the testbed approximately {{convert|5.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} off the ground, and a third flight in December 2012 of 29 seconds duration, with extended hover under rocket engine power, in which it ascended to an altitude of {{convert|40|m|ft|abbr=on}} before descending under rocket power to come to a successful vertical landing.<ref name="cl20121224">{{cite news|last=Boyle|first=Alan|title=SpaceX launches its Grasshopper rocket on 12-story-high hop in Texas|url=http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/23/16114180-spacex-launches-its-grasshopper-rocket-on-12-story-high-hop-in-texas|accessdate=2012-12-30|newspaper=MSNBC Cosmic Log|date=2012-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194358/http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/23/16114180-spacex-launches-its-grasshopper-rocket-on-12-story-high-hop-in-texas|archive-date=2016-03-03|url-status=live}}</ref> Grasshopper made its eighth, and final, test flight on October 7, 2013, flying to an altitude of {{convert|744|m|ft|abbr=on}} (0.46 miles) before making its eighth successful [[Engineering:VTVL|vertical landing]].<ref name="sx20131012fb">{{cite web|url = https://www.facebook.com/SpaceX/posts/10153372146765131|title = Grasshopper flies to its highest height to date|publisher = SpaceX|work = Social media information release|date = 12 October 2013|accessdate = 14 October 2013|quote = ''WATCH: Grasshopper flies to its highest height to date - 744 m (2441 ft) into the Texas sky. <nowiki>http://youtu.be/9ZDkItO-0a4</nowiki> This was the last scheduled test for the Grasshopper rig; next up will be low altitude tests of the Falcon 9 Reusable (F9R) development vehicle in Texas followed by high altitude testing in New Mexico.''|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160117175326/https://www.facebook.com/SpaceX/posts/10153372146765131|archive-date = 17 January 2016|url-status = live}}</ref>  The Grasshopper test vehicle is now retired.<ref name="sn20131017" />

Flight tests at the Texas facility were limited to a maximum altitude of {{convert|2500|ft|m|abbr=on}} by the initial FAA regulatory permit.<ref name="wt20130508">{{cite news |last=Abbott |first=Joseph |title=SpaceX’s Grasshopper leaping to NM spaceport |url=http://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/spacex-s-grasshopper-leaping-to-nm-spaceport/article_de2126cd-d6ec-563b-b84b-532641e709e3.html |accessdate=2013-10-25 |newspaper=Waco Tribune |date=2013-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824133403/http://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/spacex-s-grasshopper-leaping-to-nm-spaceport/article_de2126cd-d6ec-563b-b84b-532641e709e3.html |archive-date=2017-08-24 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Date (y-m-d)
! width=120 | Highest altitude
! Duration
! Video
! Remarks
|-
| 1
| 2012-09-21<ref name="sfn20120924">{{cite news|last = Clark|first = Stephen|title = SpaceX's reusable rocket testbed takes first hop|url = http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1209/24grasshopper/|accessdate = 2012-09-25|publisher = Spaceflightnow|date = 2012-09-24|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120927015637/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1209/24grasshopper/|archive-date = 2012-09-27|url-status = live}}</ref>
| {{convert|6|ft|m|1|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name=sfn20120924/>
| 3s<ref name=sfn20120924/>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzXlUw2WhcE|title=Grasshopper Takes Its First Hop / 9-21-12|last=SpaceX|date=24 September 2012|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808023701/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzXlUw2WhcE|archive-date=8 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|A "brief hop"<ref name="nsw20120922">{{cite news|last=Lindsey|first=Clark|title=SpaceX Grasshopper vertical takeoff/vertical landing rocket first test|url=http://newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-grasshopper-vertical-takeoffvertical-landing-rocket-first-test.html|accessdate=2012-09-23|newspaper=NewSpace Watch|date=2012-09-22 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> with a near-empty tank.
|-
| 2
| 2012-11-01<ref name=S1Nov2012>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-VjaBSSnqs|title=Grasshopper Two-Story Hop 11/1/12|date=5 November 2012|publisher=SpaceX|accessdate=6 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112142541/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-VjaBSSnqs|archive-date=12 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{convert|17.7|ft|m|abbr=on|1|order=flip}}<ref name=S1Nov2012/>
| 8s<ref name=S1Nov2012/>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-VjaBSSnqs|title=Grasshopper Two-Story Hop 11/1/12|last=SpaceX|date=5 November 2012|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112142541/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-VjaBSSnqs|archive-date=12 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
|
|-
| 3
| 2012-12-17<ref name=nsj20121224>{{cite web |url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2012/12/24/grasshopper-hops-ever-higher/ |title=Grasshopper hops ever higher |date=24 December 2012 |publisher=NewSpace Journal |accessdate=25 December 2012 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6GIwUvczi?url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2012/12/24/grasshopper-hops-ever-higher/ |archive-date=2 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{convert|131|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}<ref name=nsj20121224/>
| 29s<ref name=nsj20121224/>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz-NYeH-CEY|title=Single Camera: Grasshopper 12-Story Test Flight 12/17/12|last=SpaceX|date=23 December 2012|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116142543/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz-NYeH-CEY|archive-date=16 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| First flight to include the cowboy mannequin
|-
| 4
| 2013-03-07<ref name=faa20130307>{{cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/launch_data/permitted_historical_launch/|title=FAA Permitted Launches|date=8 March 2013|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|accessdate=9 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306034738/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/launch_data/permitted_historical_launch/|archive-date=6 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{convert|262|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}<ref name=nsj20130309>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2013/03/09/more-on-grasshoppers-johnny-cash-hover-slam-test/|title=More on Grasshopper’s "Johnny Cash hover slam" test|date=9 March 2013|publisher=NewSpace Journal|accessdate=9 March 2013|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6GIwVYlye?url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2013/03/09/more-on-grasshoppers-johnny-cash-hover-slam-test/|archive-date=2 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 34s<ref name=nsj20130309/>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnPXH3ow8SE|title=Grasshopper 24-Story Hover Slam 3/7/13 - Single Angle|last=SpaceX|date=11 March 2013|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823063608/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnPXH3ow8SE|archive-date=23 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Touchdown thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20130310 |title=GRASSHOPPER COMPLETES HIGHEST LEAP TO DATE |date=10 March 2013 |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6GIwWAuZ6?url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20130310 |archive-date=2 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 5
| 2013-04-17<ref name=nsw20130423>{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Clark |title=SpaceX Grasshopper reaches 250 meters |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-grasshopper-reaches-250-meters.html |accessdate=2013-04-23 |newspaper=NewSpace Watch |date=2013-04-13 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429004315/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-grasshopper-reaches-250-meters.html |archive-date=2013-04-29 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{convert|820|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}<ref name=nsw20130423/>
| 58s<!-- Estimate based on duration between takeoff and landing in the video, but I don't know how far the video strays from the actual test duration due to editing, etc. -->
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXG_nX7Exg0|title=Grasshopper 250m Test - Single Camera (Hexacopter)|last=SpaceX|date=23 April 2013|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003022439/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXG_nX7Exg0|archive-date=3 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Demonstrated ability to maintain stability in wind<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/326500735233712129|title=Elon Musk's twitter|date=22 April 2013|access-date=23 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921161120/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/326500735233712129|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 6
| 2013-06-14<ref name=BerginJune2013>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/testing-times-spacexs-new-falcon-9-v-1-1/#.UbutI9sYJmo.twitter |title=Testing times for SpaceX’s new Falcon 9 v.1.1 |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=14 June 2013 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight (not affiliated with NASA) |accessdate=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6I0DVsqss?url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/testing-times-spacexs-new-falcon-9-v-1-1/#.UbutI9sYJmo.twitter |archive-date=10 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{convert|325|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}<ref name=BerginJune2013/>
| 68s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/reducing-risk-ground-testing-recipe-spacex-success/#.UcMRgBSX1v4.twitter|title=Reducing risk via ground testing is a recipe for SpaceX success|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=20 June 2013|publisher=NASASpaceFlight (not affiliated with NASA)|accessdate=21 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118211052/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/reducing-risk-ground-testing-recipe-spacex-success/#.UcMRgBSX1v4.twitter|archive-date=18 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGimzB5QM1M|title=Grasshopper 325m Test - Single Camera (Hexacopter)|last=SpaceX|date=5 July 2013|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121151241/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGimzB5QM1M|archive-date=21 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| New navigation sensor suite tested; needed on the F9-R for precision landing<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacenews.com/video/video-grasshopper-325-meter-test#.UePH2sr9WGw|title=VIDEO - Grasshopper 325-meter Test |website=SpaceNews.com|date=8 July 2013|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
| 7
| 2013-08-13<ref name=nbc20130814>{{cite news |last=Boyle |first=Alan |title=SpaceX's Grasshopper test rocket flies sideways successfully |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/science/spacexs-grasshopper-test-rocket-flies-sideways-successfully-6C10923106 |accessdate=2013-08-15 |newspaper=NBC News |date=2013-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817060230/http://www.nbcnews.com/science/spacexs-grasshopper-test-rocket-flies-sideways-successfully-6C10923106 |archive-date=2013-08-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{convert|250|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}<ref name=nbc20130814/>
| 60s
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXdjxPY2j_0|title=Grasshopper Divert - Single Cam (Grasshopper vs. Cows)|last=SpaceX|date=8 September 2013|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003100018/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXdjxPY2j_0|archive-date=3 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t15vP1PyoA Successfully completed a "divert test"] performing {{convert|100|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}} lateral maneuver before returning to the pad.<ref name=nbc20130814/>
|-
| 8
| 2013-10-07<ref name=twitter20131007>{{cite web|title=SpaceX's Grasshopper flight on 10/07|url=https://twitter.com/mkelly007/status/387319465827774464|access-date=2013-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026195529/https://twitter.com/mkelly007/status/387319465827774464|archive-date=2013-10-26|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{convert|744|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkItO-0a4 |title=Grasshopper 744m Test &ndash; Single Camera (Hexacopter) |date=2013-10-12 |publisher=SpaceX Youtube channel |access-date=2016-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129141536/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkItO-0a4 |archive-date=2016-11-29 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| 79s<ref name=sx20131016>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/10/16/grasshopper-completes-half-mile-flight-last-test|title=Grasshopper Completes Half-Mile Flight in Last Test|first=Hannah|last=Post|date=16 October 2013|website=Spacex.com|accessdate=9 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009140029/https://www.spacex.com/news/2013/10/16/grasshopper-completes-half-mile-flight-last-test|archive-date=9 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkItO-0a4|title=Grasshopper 744m Test - Single Camera (Hexacopter)|last=SpaceX|date=12 October 2013|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008234030/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkItO-0a4|archive-date=8 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Final flight of Grasshopper.  Vehicle retired after the flight.<ref name=sn20131017/>
|}

As Elon Musk stated, Grasshopper could land on Earth with the accuracy of a [[Engineering:Helicopter|helicopter]].<ref name=mab20130311>{{cite news |title=Musk’s Space Talk Wows Crowd at South by Southwest |url=http://moonandback.com/2013/03/10/musks-space-talk-wows-crowd-at-south-by-southwest/ |accessdate=2013-03-11 |newspaper=Moon and Back |date=2013-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313042538/http://moonandback.com/2013/03/10/musks-space-talk-wows-crowd-at-south-by-southwest/ |archive-date=2013-03-13 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From the announcement in 2011 until 2014, SpaceX has achieved each of the schedule milestones that they publicly announced. SpaceX said in February 2012 that they were planning several vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing (VTVL) test flights during 2012,<ref name="pm20120207">{{cite news |last=Simberg |first=Rand |title=Elon Musk on SpaceX’s Reusable Rocket Plans |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/rockets/elon-musk-on-spacexs-reusable-rocket-plans-6653023 |accessdate=2012-02-07 |newspaper=Popular Mechanics |date=2012-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211035043/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/rockets/elon-musk-on-spacexs-reusable-rocket-plans-6653023 |archive-date=2012-02-11 |url-status=live }}</ref> and confirmed in June 2012 that they continued to plan to make the first test flight within the next couple of months.<ref name="sfn20120709" />

{{anchor|Falcon 9 Reusable Development Vehicle testing}}

=== F9R Dev1 flight tests ===
The Falcon 9 Reusable Development Vehicle, or ''F9R Dev'', was announced in October 2012. F9R Dev1 was initially named, since late 2012 until early 2014, as Grasshopper v1.1.<ref name="nsf20140422" /><ref name="sx20131012fb"/> In March 2013 Musk said that SpaceX hoped to reach [[Physics:Hypersonic|hypersonic]] speed before the end of 2013.<ref name="nsw20130309">{{cite news |last=Lindsey|first=Clark |title=Elon Musk debuted video of latest Grasshopper flight at SXSW |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/elon-musk-debuted-video-of-latest-grasshopper-flight-at-sxsw.html |accessdate=2013-03-14 |newspaper=NewSpace Watch |date=2013-03-09 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In March 2013, it was announced that the second Grasshopper-class suborbital flight vehicle would be constructed out of the Falcon 9 v1.1 first-stage tank that had been used for qualification testing in Texas at the [[Organization:SpaceX Rocket Development and Test Facility|SpaceX Rocket Development and Test Facility]] prior to March.<ref name="nbf20130323">{{cite news |title={{Sic|hide=y|Spacex}} May try to land or recover the first stage of it next Falcon 9 v1.1 launch this summer |url=http://nextbigfuture.com/2013/03/spacex-may-try-to-land-recover-first.html |accessdate=2013-04-06 |newspaper=Next Big Future |date=2013-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327032635/http://nextbigfuture.com/2013/03/spacex-may-try-to-land-recover-first.html |archive-date=2013-03-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

In 2014 the FAA permit was increased to {{convert|10000|ft|m|abbr=on}} for the F9R Dev testing at McGregor,<ref name="aw20140428" /> when the first Grasshopper was limited to an altitude of {{convert|2500|ft|m|abbr=on}}.

The F9R Dev1 was built on the much longer [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.1|Falcon 9 v1.1]] first-stage tank, and with retractable landing legs.

SpaceX performed a short-duration ground test (static test) of F9R Dev1 on March 28, 2014 at their McGregor, Texas test site,<ref name="sn20140414">{{cite news|last=Malik|first=Tariq|title=SpaceX to Attempt Daring Reusable Rocket Test During Dragon Launch Today|url=http://www.space.com/25484-spacex-daring-reusable-rocket-launch-test.html|accessdate=2014-04-15|newspaper=SpaceNews|date=2014-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414232512/http://www.space.com/25484-spacex-daring-reusable-rocket-launch-test.html|archive-date=2014-04-14|url-status=live}}</ref> and made their maiden test flight of the new vehicle, to an altitude of {{convert|250|m|sp=us}}, on April 17, 2014.<ref name="aw20140428">{{cite news |last=Norris |first=Guy |title=SpaceX Plans For Multiple Reusable Booster Tests: Controlled water landing marks a major stride toward SpaceX’s Falcon rapid-reusability goal |url=http://aviationweek.com/space/spacex-plans-multiple-reusable-booster-tests |accessdate=2014-04-26 |newspaper=Aviation Week |date=2014-04-28 |quote=''The April 17 F9R Dev 1 flight, which lasted under 1 min., was the first vertical landing test of a production-representative recoverable Falcon 9 v1.1 first stage, while the April 18 cargo flight to the ISS was the first opportunity for SpaceX to evaluate the design of foldable landing legs and upgraded thrusters that control the stage during its initial descent.'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426201818/http://aviationweek.com/space/spacex-plans-multiple-reusable-booster-tests |archive-date=2014-04-26 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=wt20140417>
{{cite news |last=Abbott|first=Joseph |title=Grasshopper's successor flies at SpaceX's McGregor site |url=http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/grasshopper-s-successor-flies-at-spacex-s-mcgregor-site/article_66310240-c67f-11e3-bf29-001a4bcf887a.html |accessdate=2014-04-18 |newspaper=Waco Tribune |date=2014-04-17 }}</ref> The F9R Dev1 vehicle's fifth flight on 22 August 2014 was also its final one.<ref name=nsf20140422>{{cite news |last=Bergin |first=Chris |title=Rockets that return home – SpaceX pushing the boundaries |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/rockets-return-home-spacex-pushing-boundaries/ |accessdate=2014-04-23 |newspaper=NASAspaceflight.com |date=2014-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425204725/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/rockets-return-home-spacex-pushing-boundaries/ |archive-date=2014-04-25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=nsj20140823>{{cite news |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=Falcon 9 test vehicle destroyed in accident |url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2014/08/23/falcon-9-test-vehicle-destroyed-in-accident/ |accessdate=2014-08-23 |publisher=NewSpace Journal |date=2014-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825232350/http://www.newspacejournal.com/2014/08/23/falcon-9-test-vehicle-destroyed-in-accident/ |archive-date=2014-08-25 |url-status=live }}</ref> Anomalous sensor data from the vehicle during its ascent triggered the flight termination system, leading to the destruction of F9R-Dev1. No injuries or near-injuries were reported and an FAA representative was present during the test. Video from the accident was released by CBS and multiple images from the accident were posted on social media.<ref name="tweet" /><ref name="SFnowGrasshopperFail">{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1408/22falcon9r/|title=SpaceX rocket prototype explodes in test flight|publisher=Spaceflight Now|author=Stephen Clark|date=2014-08-22|accessdate=2014-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825211029/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1408/22falcon9r/|archive-date=2014-08-25|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Test #
! width=120 | Date (year-month-day)
! width=90 | Test vehicle
! Location
! Highest altitude
! Video
! Remarks
|-
| 1
| 2014-04-17<ref name=nsf20140422/>
| F9R Dev1
| McGregor
| {{convert|250|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=nsf20140422/>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjWqQPWmsY|title=F9R First Flight Test - 250m|last=SpaceX|date=18 April 2014|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102060427/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjWqQPWmsY|archive-date=2 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Hovered, moved sideways, landed successfully.<ref name=wt20140417/>
|-
| 2
| 2014-05-01<ref name=wt20140501/>
| F9R Dev1
| McGregor
| {{convert|1000|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|author=SpaceX|title=F9R Flight Test - 1,000m|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwwS4YOTbbw&|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|date=May 2, 2014|access-date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309071557/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwwS4YOTbbw&|archive-date=March 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwwS4YOTbbw|title=F9R Flight Test - 1,000m|last=SpaceX|date=2 May 2014|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111035109/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwwS4YOTbbw|archive-date=11 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Hovered, moved sideways, landed.<ref name=wt20140501>{{cite news |last=Abbott |first=Joseph |title=SpaceX's Grasshopper successor flies again |url=http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/spacex-s-grasshopper-successor-flies-again/article_20161aaa-d18f-11e3-9a61-0019bb2963f4.html |accessdate=2014-05-02 |newspaper=Waco Tribune |date=2014-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010192642/https://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/spacex-s-grasshopper-successor-flies-again/article_20161aaa-d18f-11e3-9a61-0019bb2963f4.html |archive-date=2018-10-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 3
| 2014-06-17
| F9R Dev1
| McGregor
| {{convert|1000|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}<ref name=vid20140617>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgLBIdVg3EM|title=F9R 1000m Fin Flight - Onboard Cam and Wide Shot|last=SpaceX|date=19 June 2014|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814161821/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgLBIdVg3EM|archive-date=14 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| <ref name=vid20140617/>
| First test flight with steerable grid fins.<ref name="vid20140617"/>
|-
| 4
| 2014-08-01<ref name=faagrasshopper>{{cite web|title=Commercial Space Data - Launches|url=http://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/launches/?type=Permitted|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|quote=Dates of Grasshopper launches|access-date=2014-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810043838/http://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/launches/?type=Permitted|archive-date=2014-08-10|url-status=live}}</ref>
| F9R Dev1
| McGregor
|
|
| No public information was provided by SpaceX about this flight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflight101.net/spacex---f9r-development-updates.html|title=SpaceX - F9R Development Updates|website=Spaceflight101|accessdate=9 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010011535/http://www.spaceflight101.net/spacex---f9r-development-updates.html|archive-date=10 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 5
| 2014-08-22<ref name=faagrasshopper/>
| F9R Dev1
| McGregor
|
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnqjnxfjgUk|title=SpaceX F9R Auto-termination explosion during test flight|last=Gunrun|date=22 August 2014|accessdate=9 October 2018|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712232358/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnqjnxfjgUk|archive-date=12 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Vehicle exploded following a flight anomaly that began to take F9R Dev1 off of its planned flight path. No injuries.<ref name=nsj20140823/><ref>{{cite web|author=Harwood, William|title=SpaceX rocket explodes during test flight in Texas|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-rocket-explodes-during-test-flight-in-texas/|publisher=CBS News|date=August 22, 2014|access-date=September 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010014428/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-rocket-explodes-during-test-flight-in-texas/|archive-date=October 10, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> A blocked sensor was the cause of the flight anomaly. The sensor had no backup in the prototype F9R Dev vehicle but would have had a redundant backup in the flight-version [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.1|Falcon 9]].<ref name=ft20140803>{{cite news|last1=Dean|first1=James|title=SpaceX targeting Saturday launch from Cape|url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2014/09/03/spacex-targeting-saturday-launch-cape/15028017/|accessdate=2014-08-03|publisher=Florida Today|date=2014-08-03}}</ref>
|}

==Falcon 9 post-mission landing tests==
[[File:Falcon 9 first stage attempts landing on ASDS after CRS-6 (17170624412).jpg|thumb|Falcon 9 first stage attempts landing on ASDS after second stage with CRS-6 continued onto orbit.  Landing legs are in the midst of deploying.]]
{{main|Engineering:Falcon 9 first-stage landing tests}}

In 2013, SpaceX moved to using their mainstream Falcon 9 vehicles for VTVL testing, in addition to their existing tests with flying test vehicles. In March 2013, SpaceX announced that, beginning with the first flight of the stretch version of the [[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] launch vehicle—the sixth flight overall of Falcon 9 (then anticipated for summer 2013), every first stage would be instrumented and equipped as a controlled descent test vehicle.<ref name=nsw20130328>{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Clark |title=SpaceX moving quickly towards fly-back first stage |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-moving-quickly-towards-fly-back-first-stage.html |accessdate=2013-03-29 |newspaper=NewSpace Watch |date=2013-03-28 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416030256/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-moving-quickly-towards-fly-back-first-stage.html |archive-date=2013-04-16 |url-status=live }}</ref> SpaceX attempted numerous over-water landings. both over the sea, resulting in soft landings into the water, and onto specialized Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ships: barges modified to be landing platforms. None were completely successful.

SpaceX finally succeeded in landing a production vertical-landing rocket on land in late 2015. The first attempt to land the first stage of the Falcon 9 on land, near its launch site, occurred on Falcon 9 Flight 20, on 21 December 2015.  The landing was successful, and the first stage of the [[Engineering:Falcon 9 Full Thrust|Falcon 9 Full Thrust]] vehicle was recovered.<ref name="flight20twitter">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/679114269485436928|title=SpaceX on Twitter|publisher=[[Company:Twitter|Twitter]]|accessdate=9 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223222431/https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/679114269485436928|archive-date=23 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="space.com-flight20">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/31420-spacex-rocket-landing-success.html|title=Wow! SpaceX Lands Orbital Rocket Successfully in Historic First|website=Space.com|accessdate=9 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128061324/https://www.space.com/31420-spacex-rocket-landing-success.html|archive-date=28 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=sn20151016>{{cite news |last1=de Selding |first1=Peter B. |title=SpaceX Changes its Falcon 9 Return-to-flight Plans |url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-changes-its-falcon-9-return-to-flight-plans/ |accessdate=8 November 2015 |work=SpaceNews |date=2015-10-16 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20151016202849/http://spacenews.com/spacex-changes-its-falcon-9-return-to-flight-plans/ |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> By May 27, 2016, SpaceX had successfully completed three first-stage landings on a [[Engineering:Autonomous spaceport drone ship|drone ship]] at sea.<ref name="mashable20160402">{{cite web |last=Kramer |first=Miriam |title=SpaceX does it again: Company lands third rocket on drone ship in the ocean |url=http://mashable.com/2016/05/27/spacex-drone-ship-third-landing/ |date=27 May 2016 |work=Mashable |accessdate=10 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611134947/http://mashable.com/2016/05/27/spacex-drone-ship-third-landing/ |archive-date=11 June 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
[[File:ORBCOMM-2 First-Stage Landing (23271687254).jpg|thumb|Falcon 9 Flight 20 immediately before landing on Landing Zone 1]]
* SpaceX launch vehicles)
* [[Engineering:List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters|List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters]]
* [[Astronomy:Kankoh-maru|Kankoh-maru]]
* [[Engineering:McDonnell Douglas DC-X|McDonnell Douglas DC-X]]
* [[Astronomy:New Shepard|New Shepard]]
* [[Engineering:Quad (rocket)|Quad (rocket)]]
* [[Engineering:Reusable Vehicle Testing|Reusable Vehicle Testing]]
* [[Engineering:SpaceX reusable launch system development program|SpaceX reusable launch system development program]]—Grasshopper is one component of the test program for the overall reusable launch vehicle technology that SpaceX is developing.
* [[Engineering:VTVL|Vertical takeoff, vertical landing rockets]]
* [[Engineering:Zarya (spacecraft)|Zarya]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*'''Collected videos'''
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzXlUw2WhcE Video of 1st test launch], 21 September 2012
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-VjaBSSnqs Video of 2nd test launch], 1 November 2012
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4PEXLODw9c Video of 3rd test launch H=40m], 17 December 2012
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ivr6JF1K-8 Video of 4th test launch H=80m], 8 March 2013
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoxiK7K28PU Video of 5th test launch H=250m], 17 April 2013
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGimzB5QM1M Video of 6th test launch H=325m], 14 June 2013
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t15vP1PyoA Video of 7th test launch H=250m L=100m], 13 August 2013
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkItO-0a4 Video of 8th test launch H=744m], 7 October 2013.  Final Grasshopper test flight.
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjWqQPWmsY Video of 9th test launch H=250m], 17 April 2014.  First [[Engineering:F9R Dev1|F9R Dev1]] test flight.
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwwS4YOTbbw Video of 10th test launch H=1000m], 1 May 2014
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qv2VEX9iyI Video of 13th test launch], 22 August 2014.  Final flight of ''F9R Dev1'' as vehicle was destroyed after an anomaly occurred during the test flight.
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPgyb6euISs&t=58m5s Steve Jurvetson personal comments on the destruction of F9R Dev1], 23 September 2014, SPARK 2014 Keynote address, @58:05.  Jurvetson is a SpaceX board member and was present for the flight test on 22 August 2014.

{{Reusable launch systems}}
{{US launch systems}}

[[Category:SpaceX launch vehicles]]
[[Category:Reusable space launch systems]]
[[Category:VTVL rockets]]

{{Sourceattribution|Grasshopper (rocket)|1}}