SpaceX signaled a new phase of the private sector space race on Monday evening, when it launched a payload of satellites to space and successfully landed a rocket stage back on Earth.
The landing of the first stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida was met with the words, "The Falcon has landed," on the SpaceX webcast.
The landing marks the first time SpaceX has attempted to vertically park a Falcon 9 rocket stage back on solid ground after flying a payload to orbit. This video, which SpaceX released Tuesday, shows the vertical landing from the vantage point of a helicopter hovering nearby.
The launch and landing also marked the first time any company has landed an orbital rocket segment back on Earth following a launch to space. The landing paves the way for potentially reusing rockets for space launches, which SpaceX and other companies hope will dramatically reduce the cost of gaining access to space.
"Everything appears to have been perfect," SpaceX founder Elon Musk said during a press call after the launch and landing.
The rocket stage reached an altitude of about 200 km before making its way back to Earth for its landing.