http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_large_floating_structure#Floating_landing_platforms
Floating landing platforms
As of October 2014, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has contracted with a Louisiana shipyard to build a floating landing platform for reusable orbital launch vehicles. The initial platform will have an approximately 90 by 50 meters (300 ft × 160 ft) landing pad surface and will be capable of precision positioning with diesel-powered Azimuth thrusters[6] so the platform can hold its position for launch vehicle landing.
This platform is currently planned for first use in January 2015[7] when SpaceX plans to attempt a controlled descent flight test to land the first stage of Falcon 9 Flight 14 on a solid surface after it is used to loft a contracted payload toward Earth orbit.[8][9] The platform will utilize GPS position information to navigate and hold its precise position.[10] The rocket landing leg span is 18 m (60 ft) and must not only land within the 52 m (170 ft)-wide barge deck, but must also deal with ocean swells and GPS errors. SpaceX has projected that the likelihood of successfully landing on the platform on the first try is 50 percent or less.[11]
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed a photograph of the “autonomous spaceport drone ship” in November 2014. The ship is designed to hold position to within 3 meters (9.8 ft), even under storm conditions.[12]
Good morning, Jack. Can’t believe I’m actually up for this, but hey....it’s (supposedly) historic.
Whoever the PIO dude is on the mic, he doesn’t sound as ‘smooth’ as usual for a NASA launch.
Just showed a shot of the SpaceX launch control in Hawthorne, CA. Quite a crowd just outside the LCC.
Rocket gantry (”strongback”) retracted. T-4:00 and counting.
T- 2 minutes. Here we go.
Not sure what happened, but the LD called the hold with just a little more than 90 seconds to go. They’re going through the procedures to safe the vehicle. Still no word as to what caused the abort.