# what is the big deal about landing the SpaceX rocket

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-big-deal-about-landing-the-spacex-rocket/741205>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 23, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-big-deal-about-landing-the-spacex-rocket/741205 "2015-12-23T18:57:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-big-deal-about-landing-the-spacex-rocket/741205/1 "2015-12-23T18:57:39Z")

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Please remove my ignorance. I don’t really see the value in it, and am currently viewing it as an interesting feat, but not much more than a stunt that isn’t really ultimately commercially viable.

Why is it such a big deal and why is it so much better than some cheaper, less complex method, like parachute landing onto water or land for example?

Is it just the first stage they landed, and not a potential space capsule? The likelihood of a malfunction with such a complex system just screams to me that it won’t be a viable long term option.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-big-deal-about-landing-the-spacex-rocket/741205/2 "2015-12-23T19:32:49Z")

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Some discussion in this thread:  
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18884708](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18884708)

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**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-big-deal-about-landing-the-spacex-rocket/741205/3 "2015-12-23T19:45:39Z")

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thanks  
I should have searched first

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-big-deal-about-landing-the-spacex-rocket/741205/4 "2015-12-23T19:47:51Z")

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**Moderator Action**

Since this is discussed in the other thread (see **beowulff** ’s link), I will close this one.

Thread closed.