So rocket ship goes up about 1100 feet and then rocket ship comes back down. I guess I don’t get it. What is the big deal about that?
Uh......maybe because......it’s never been done before?
It is a test. It is a prototype first stage of the Falcon 9 vehicle. If things go well, this reusable first stage will be propelling upper stages into the atmosphere, separating, and landing back at the launch pad.
The importance of this is that if SpaceX can do this, it will drop launch costs lower than any other company or country. They will bring all the launch business that can fit onto a Falcon 9 here, because no one will be able to compete with them.
Demonstrated stability and control with only thrust vectoring (and gyros?) - no aerodynamics. Validating that their control loops respond fast enough, no weird oscillations, they can deal with noisy real-world environments and inputs (not clean simulations in the computer lab) etc. Verifying navigation back to a fixed point (ok, they didn't seem to translate any, just up and down). Verifying sensors, control, and engine throttling for hover and soft landing. This was actually a fairly comprehensive test.
“...What is the big deal about that?”
Guess it’s time for you to go back to BeanTown and have a few more of them Sam Adams...maybe then after you think aboug it you will get it.
“So rocket ship goes up about 1100 feet and then rocket ship comes back down. I guess I don’t get it. What is the big deal about that?”
From an engineering standpoint, stability and engine throttling, that is incredible. Warnr von Braun would crap his pants if he saw that.
I would tend to agree with you but it was fun to watch.