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Here's where SpaceX is going to try and land their rocket for the first time

Kelly Dickerson   

Here's where SpaceX is going to try and land their rocket for the first time
Science2 min read

Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX is going to try and make history tonight (December 21).

At 8:34 p.m. ET, SpaceX will launch the most powerful version of its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, and then attempt to land part of the rocket back on Earth.

Just a few hours before the launch, SpaceX tweeted out a few images of the landing site, called Landing Zone 1:

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SpaceX/Twitter

Here's what the pad itself looks like. It was repurposed from a structure called Launch Complex 13, according to Universe Today:

spacex landing site

SpaceX

"X" marks the spot.

And here's where the Cape Canaveral launch facility is.

cape canaveral

Google Maps

The rocket will take off from Launch Complex 40, and then (maybe) land back at Landing Zone 1 a few miles away:

landing zone 1

Google Maps/Jennifer Welsh

If SpaceX pulls off the landing, it'll be able to reuse the rocket for other launches. Reusable rockets could revolutionize spaceflight and significantly reduce the cost of launches.

Here's the livestream, which, Musk says will show both the launch and landing attempt, starting Monday December 21 at 8:30 pm EST:

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