How a rocket booster lands itself, in 30 seconds

A Falcon 9 booster can't hover. Even at its lowest setting, its engine pushes twice the empty booster's weight.

So it falls unlit, lights the engine at the last moment, and slows evenly to zero right at the deck. One burn, no second try.

Before that: it flips, fires back toward home, and steers down with four grid fins.

Send this to the friend who still thinks it hovers.

#spacex #falcon9 #rocketlanding #engineering #howitworks #rocket