Story by
Nate Swanner
Former Reporter, TNWTNW's former West Coast writer in the PNW (Portland, Oregon). Nate loves amplifying developers, and codes in Swift when he's not writing. If TNW's former West Coast writer in the PNW (Portland, Oregon). Nate loves amplifying developers, and codes in Swift when he's not writing. If you need to get in touch, Twitter is your best bet.
Do you know how hard it is to land a SpaceX rocket in the ocean on a barge? No, you don’t. Nobody does except SpaceX — but you could recreate their efforts with a drone and a swimming pool, if you wanted to.
One enterprising soul did just that, strapping what looks like a used(?) hobby rocket body to a small drone to replicate the SpaceX Falcon 9. It even has deployable landing gear!
The landing pad is basically a floating piece of wood(?), dressed up to look like a real ocean-going barge.
Sounds simple, right? I can’t even keep a real drone from hitting trees and walls, so maybe not. The person who made the video also had a few failed attempts. Rockets, man — they’re just not easy.
Still, it’s a neat video, and you should watch it. And if you’re one of the cool kids, try making your own SpaceX rocket out of a DJI Phantom, 55-gallon drum and the hood of a Buick floating in the pool at your local High School.
Then we’ll talk rocket science.
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