Armadillo Aerospace - Mod free flight, engine restart, 4 views
Why Hacker News recommends it
Cited as an example of impressive amateur-scale rocket work, and as a vertical-landing test that predates and rivals SpaceX's Grasshopper.
What it is
A four-pane view of Armadillo Aerospace's Mod vehicle on a June 2010 boosted hop. The flight includes engine shutdown, drogue chute deployment, an engine restart and a safe landing.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2010 to 2014.
What Hacker News said
Recommends gnarbarian · 2012-12 · on “SpaceX Grasshopper Takes Off and Lands Vertically [video]”
Bigger but this [1] test by Armadillo was more impressive in my opinion for the additional complexity involved in cutting the engine deploying a chute then cutting the chute and successfully landing from a turbulent freefall. [1] [this video]
Recommends acous · 2014-10 · on “The Tyranny of the Rocket Equation (2012)”
This exchange made me grin :) To add some value to my comment, here's a cool video from one of armadillo's test rockets: [this video]
Cites matrixownsyou · 2010-07 · on “Ask HN: Does reading HN ever make you feel like shit?”
I felt the same way until i read a post from a HN user about "being mediocre and it's OK". Not being a rocket scientist doesn't mean i can't build great stuff too, i'll just never do something like this :) [this video]