Watch SpaceX test fire one of the Falcon 9 rockets it relanded

SpaceX is getting ready to launch one of the rockets it relanded to prove they're truly reusable. In fact, it just finished test firing one of them at its Texas development facility. The first-stage booster burned for a total of 2 minutes and 30 seconds, the full duration for a single stage flight, on Thursday night. According to NASA Spaceflight, the booster looked like it was in great shape after the test upon initial evaluation, which bodes well for the company's plans.

If you're wondering which Falcon 9 was test fired, it was the one that ferried the JCSAT communications satellite to orbit back in May. SpaceX didn't use the first rocket it ever relanded (on solid ground), because Elon Musk sees is as a museum piece. The company didn't use the first rocket that successfully touched down on a barge either, because it's too valuable: that's the one the company wants to send back to space.

Source: SpaceX (YouTube)