SpaceX reveals fiery end to rocket on Twitter, Vine
Instead of landing softly on the bobbing ocean platform meant to receive it, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket tipped, crashed and burst into flames. It's all on display via Twitter and Vine.
Michael Franco
Freelancer Michael Franco writes about the serious and silly sides of science and technology for CNET and other pixel and paper pubs. He's kept his fingers on the keyboard while owning a B&B in Amish country, managing an eco-resort in the Caribbean, sweating in Singapore, and rehydrating (with beer, of course) in Prague. E-mail Michael.
2 min read
When you own a private space-exploration company and something goes wrong with a rocket's landing, what do you do? Tweet out the images, of course. And post a Vine, natch.
That's what SpaceX founder Elon Musk and his company did following last weekend's failed landing of a Falcon 9 rocket on a platform bobbing in the Atlantic Ocean. The video and the four tweets with pictures show that the rocket did connect with the platform. But then it quickly tipped over and burst into flames.