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Watch SpaceX finally nail rocket landing as Mission Control rejoices

Posted at 6:11 PM, Apr 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-08 18:11:40-04

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – It was a double win for SpaceX Friday – not only did a first-stage booster rocket finally land safely on an ocean platform, but the company also successfully launched an inflatable room for NASA astronauts, the first of its kind.

SpaceX employees watched from Mission Control in Hawthorne, California, and burst into wild applause as many jumped up and down cheering, “U.S.A., U.S.A.”

It was a moment of ecstasy for Elon Musk’s company after five other rockets failed spectacularly. In a similar attempt on June 28, the craft broke apart minutes after taking off, destroying the cargo.

Here are some of SpaceX’s past attempts:

F9R-Dev test flight explodes on August 2014:

Barge landing fail in the Atlantic in January, 2015:

Ocean landing goes awry in April 2015:

Rocket disintegrates immediately after launch in June, 2015:

Rocket topples over after landing, bursting into flames January, 2016: