Musk Says It Will Be Tested To See If A Second Flight Would Be Possible, But Then Will Be Retired

While it's possible the first stage of the Falcon 9 booster that was successfully recovered following the launch of 11 Orbcomm satellites Monday night could fly again, it most likely won't, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk.

Musk told reporters after Monday night's history-making flight that "we'll probably keep this one on the ground just [because] it's kind of unique, it's the first one we've brought back."

The Verge reports that the plans for the booster are transportation from Landing Zone 1 to Launch Complex 39A, where it will be static-fired to determine that the systems are all working.

So while Monday night's launch made history in that it was the first booster to be recovered from a spacecraft making an on-orbit delivery, it's chances of flying again are apparently pretty slim. Still, the small step forward was a major milestone for SpaceX, and the aerospace industry as a whole, because it showed that a booster could be landed safely on the ground for re-use.

Musk said that the company will likely attempt another booster recovery "sometime next year."

(Image from SpaceX webcast)

FMI: www.spacex.com