Unlike most rockets that get launched into space, which can never be used again can never be used, the Falcon 9 is capable of re-entering the atmosphere and landing vertically. This feat was achieved for the first time on flight 20 in December 2015.

As the flight number 20 suggests, there were many tests and attempts before flight number 20 that weren't successful! Don't worry though all these rockets are unmanned and are either piloted by computers and remotely from the mission control center.

If you are interested in learning more about SpaceX and their rockets, take a look at the videos below:

SpaceX launches explained

Credit Supercluster Science YouTube Channel.

Landing on land

Credit SciNews YouTube Channel.

Landing at sea

Credit Bloomberg Quicktake YouTube Channel.

We're going to create a game where we need to pilot a rocket landing!

Open this starter project in Scratch, it has a background, a Falcon 9 rocket sprite and a ship sprite already added.

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/786678852/editor

Scratch: How to create a new project

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Go to the Scratch website using the link below and click on the 'Create' link in the blue bar at the top.

By default, each new project starts with the cat sprite already added. To delete the cat click on the x in the blue circle beside the cat in the sprite list.

https://scratch.mit.edu

When a rocket enters back into Earth's atmosphere, gravity will start to pull it downwards. We can simulate this in code by changing the Y position of the sprite.

Add the following code to the rocket sprite to make it:

• start at the top center.
• point upwards (be vertical).
• start falling.

when green flag clicked go to x (0) y (200) point in direction (0) forever change y by (-5) end

Now let's program the up arrow to make the rocket fires it's booster so we can slow it down.

Add the following code to the rocket sprite.

when green flag clicked forever if < key (up arrow v) pressed? > then move (8) steps end

Scratch: Using a tablet or iPad? Tap here for different controls

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Since your tablet or iPad doesn’t have a physical keyboard, you’ll use on-screen buttons to complete this task. Wherever the instructions in this lesson mention pressing a key, you’ll need to tap a button on the screen instead. So, while your steps are a little different, you’ll still be able to make everything happen in your project.

So for example, instead of doing either of these:

when [left arrow v] key pressed move (10) steps if < key [left arrow v] pressed? > then move (10) steps end

You need to add an on-screen button (like an arrow sprite) and use this code:

when this sprite clicked move (10) steps

Now, just tap the button on the screen to perform the same action!

To make it more realistic when we fire the rocket's booster, we will create a new costume for the rocket sprite with fire thrusting out of the bottom.

• Open the costume editor.
• Rename the costume to 'normal'.
• Duplicate the normal costume and rename it to 'thrust'.
• Convert it to a Vector image.
• Use the paint tools to draw fire coming out at the bottom of the rocket (in the 'thrust' costume).

To start off the game the rocket sprite should be showing the 'normal' costume so add switch costume to (normal) blocks underneath the when clicked block and also underneath the change y by -5  block.

when green flag clicked switch costume to (normal v)// add this block go to x (0) y (200) point in direction (0) forever change y by (-5) switch costume to (normal v)// add this block end