[Previous story, posted at 4:45 a.m. ET]
(CNN) — Space X steps back up to the plate Saturday to take another crack at making history — not by what goes up, but by how it comes back down.
Hopefully, some time after its rocket’s launch, the first stage, which is 14 stories tall, will land gingerly and on its feet.
Normally, once it has vaulted the rest of the rocket into space, it falls back into the ocean as, basically, garbage. That has been compared to throwing away a Boeing 747 passenger jet after it makes one transatlantic flight.
But SpaceX is determined to change the practice to save millions in costs. Instead of losing the rocket, the company aims to reuse it.
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Space X puts the odds of success at 50% at best. This is just the first try of many hopefully to come, it said.
The countdown is ticking down. Space X will live stream the launch at 4:47 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral, Florida, barring delays.
Watch CRS-5 Launch on @livestream: http://t.co/P6t2v5LwRI
For more space and science news, see CNN’s new dedicated page.
