On: SpaceX Will Launch Its First Reused Rocket Later T...

[stevep98]

Recovering the engines allows for inspection and modifying the design to compensate for any problems.

Competitors just dump their flight-tested hardware in the ocean, when it is truly a goldmine of test data.

SpaceX is able to do all this testing with a free ride on paying launches. There's no risk to the primary mission, and they get to develop their capability.

There will be failures with reflown hardware for sure. I'm interested to know how well a failed engine can be isolated in flight so not to affect the others.

[wumpus → stevep98]

F9 has single-engine-out capability, and it's actually been used. That requires that the failure be contained.

BTW engines are often tested on the ground, so the main extra thing SpaceX learns from landing stages is data from the non-engine components.