Jeff Bezos has just launched a rocket into space and it looks like Elon Musk isn't happy. Earlier today, Bezos' aerospace company Blue Origin successfully launched the first reusable rocket into suborbital space.
The rocket, dubbed 'New Shephard', climbed 100.5 kilometers into the sky before successfully descending and touching down safely. The event was a landmark in spaceflight history as it was the first time a rocket has flown into space and successfully returned to Earth.
The Amazon founder was ecstatic following the test, saying on twitter:
The rarest of beasts - a used rocket. Controlled landing not easy, but done right, can look easy. Check out video: https://t.co/9OypFoxZk3
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) November 24, 2015
Musk, who is also trying to develop reusable rocket boosters through his SpaceX program, was quick to congratulate Bezos and Blue Origin on the achievement.
Congrats to Jeff Bezos and the BO team for achieving VTOL on their booster — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2015
Following the plesantries, Musk tired to downplay Blue Origin's feat, saying via a string of tweets that a suborbital flight doesn't count as a 'true' spaceflight.
It is, however, important to clear up the difference between "space" and "orbit", as described well by https://t.co/7PD42m37fZ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2015
Getting to space needs ~Mach 3, but GTO orbit requires ~Mach 30. The energy needed is the square, i.e. 9 units for space and 900 for orbit. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2015
Jeff maybe unaware SpaceX suborbital VTOL flight began 2013. Orbital water landing 2014. Orbital land landing next. https://t.co/S6WMRnEFY5
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2015
The ability to reuse rocket boosters could lead to new breakthroughs in spaceflight and make it more accessible to individuals.
"We are building Blue Origin to seed an enduring human presence in space, to help us move beyond this blue planet that is the origin of all we know. We are pursuing this vision patiently, step-by-step." Said Bezos in a press release. "Our fantastic team in Kent, Van Horn and Cape Canaveral is working hard not just to build space vehicles, but to bring closer the day when millions of people can live and work in space."
