Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
SpaceX's History-Making Falcon 9 Rocket Is Now On Display
(Photo via SpaceX/Flickr)
()
You can now go check out one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets for yourself, as one is currently positioned outside of SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne at the corner of Crenshaw Blvd. and Jack Northrop Ave., the L.A. Times reports. You can selfie with it as much as you like, but SpaceX asks you not to touch it. It stands 156 feet tall, according to Space Flight Now. Because SpaceX is located near the Hawthorne Municipal Airport and because the rocket is so tall, they first had to get permission from the FAA, and a light on top of the rocket will be lit at night. This particular rocket did not just make a voyage into space and back; it also made history. In December, it was used to take 11 satellites into low-earth orbit for Orbcomm, a communications company. Then, for the first time in the company's history, they managed to land the rocket vertically on a landing pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Typically, rocket parts are jettisoned into the ocean, so a landing such as this indicates that we may be able to start using reusable rockets, which would obviously save money.
Check out the landing at at 32:25, during which everyone at SpaceX erupts into cheers. And rightfully so: this is not an easy maneuver.
The company's missions haven't always been totally successful. In January, one of the Falcon 9 rockets managed to get a Jason-3 satellite into space, but failed the tricky landing onto an unmanned barge about 200 miles off the coast. However, the company has since launched and landed five more reusable rocket boosters since their first December landing. These rockets may be launched again in the next few months, but the rocket outside SpaceX headquarters will remain on Earth.
Support for LAist comes from
SpaceX puts historic flown Falcon 9 rocket on permanent display in Southern California. https://t.co/taqCccUkIZ pic.twitter.com/LLr0Tlyfc5
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) August 21, 2016
Landed Orbcomm OG2 booster being displayed upright at SpaceX's Hawthorne, CA facility: pic.twitter.com/ixDavdrqyM
— lunyaa is HERE (@loononastring) August 20, 2016
@SpaceX Lands Historic Recovered Falcon 9 Rocket Stage on Display via @collectSPACE https://t.co/7sgs4fwbdu pic.twitter.com/Ox3Pbrl3OF
— SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) August 23, 2016
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist