CRS-5 mission on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral.

Disclaimer:  I am a huge fan of Elon Musk and SpaceX.

Earlier this week I am reading the Wall Street Journal and I find an article by Andy Pastor titled, “SpaceX Stumbles in Test to Show Reusable Rocket Technology Advances.”  Stumbles?  Really?!

It’s a few days later and I’m still annoyed.  SpaceX attempted something revolutionary – recovering a first stage rocket in order to reuse it.  On their FIRST (EVER!) attempt it landed too hard on the landing platform.  Musk himself predicted success at around fifty percent (50%).

I want to suggest a different headline – one more respectful and appreciative of the technical and economic risk.

SpaceX nearly recovers first stage rocket for the FIRST time in HISTORY.