In November 2012 SpaceX’s Grasshopper vertical takeoff and landing test vehicle (VTVL) flies nearly two stories (17.7 feet/5.4 meters). Duration was 8 seconds using closed loop thrust vector and throttle control.

SpaceX is one of the leaders in private rocket development and is working to develop vehicles that are fully and rapidly reusable. a key element to radically reducing cost and increasing the efficiency of spaceflight. At ten stories tall the Grasshopper test vehicle is composed of a Falcon 9 first stage, a Merlin-1D engine, four steel landing legs.  SpaceX will test the vehicle in higher and higher flights as the test program progresses.

For more information about SpaceX, visit: http://spacex.com