CRS-8 Launch & landing on sea platform

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Quiet some achievement by Musk and co.......
Musk's dream is to get to Mars, and this pair of achievements has added oomph to that plan: A rocket that can land upright and inflatable habitats.
Still problems certainly....enough fuel left in the rocket to take off again and it would be harder to slow down in Mars'atmosphere, although alternatively easier to get back into orbit and a trip back home and less fuel requirements.[Although I envisage another unmanned rocket with any extra fuel needed for take off].
Also of course reusable hardware makes sense and will certainly will make things more economically viable with far cheaper launch costs per kilo at liftoff for all space flight in general.

 

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FYI the Mars Direct reference mission uses in-situ propellant production specifically so the rocket does not _have_ to carry enough fuel to take off again.

 

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Thanks billvon:
Whatever the methodology for putting Man on Mars, this has certainly given things a boost.