FLORIDA — (Video Below) — On Wednesday, December 5, 2018, SpaceX launched its sixteenth Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-16) to the International Space Station. Liftoff occurred at 1:16 p.m. EST, or 18:16 UTC, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
The first-stage booster was meant to touch down on land but didn’t hit its target — marking it the company’s first missed ground landing.
Elon Musk tweeted, explaining the mishap, “Grid fin hydraulic pump stalled, so Falcon landed just out to sea. Appears to be undamaged & is transmitting data. Recovery ship dispatched.”
“Engines stabilized rocket spin just in time, enabling an intact landing in water! Ships en route to rescue Falcon.”
Engines stabilized rocket spin just in time, enabling an intact landing in water! Ships en route to rescue Falcon. pic.twitter.com/O3h8eCgGJ7
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 5, 2018