Media Platforms Design TeamWe’ve always known Elon Musk was dreaming big, but a few Twitter hints on Saturday gave us a few ideas how big. Long story short: Musk is designing a craft that resembles the wing pattern of an X-Wing, as well as preparing a landing point at sea. The SpaceX chief unveiled the new Falcon 9R rocket design, which includes four guiding wings that unfurl shortly after launch. While subtitling it the “X-Wing” design, it’s actually the Hypersonic Grid Fins. Their X-configuration is meant to aid in the landing of the craft, one of the first ever reusable rockets. If the program is successful, it could be a huge boon toward making space launches a sustainable business. But not to be outdone by introducing us to just a little piece of science fiction come to life, Musk also unveiled the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship, which uses oil rig technology to stay within a relative space of just under 10 feet, even in the harshest ocean conditions. Space X has big things in store for the future. If reusable rockets and space landing pads are just the beginning, what else could the future hold? View full post on YoutubeView full post on TwitterView full post on TwitterView full post on TwitterView full post on TwitterView full post on Twittervia The VergeJohn WenzWriterJohn Wenz is a Popular Mechanics writer and space obsessive based in Philadelphia. He tweets @johnwenz.
