Video of Grasshopper's newest hop.
Part of SpaceX's long term vision is increasing the reusability of its components. This would allow SpaceX to reduce the all-important cost per pound to orbit even more.
As mentioned here, the Dragon capsule, unlike many other spacecraft, returns to earth to be reused. But the 178 foot, 368 ton Falcon 9 rocket currently ends up in the Atlantic ocean.
The Grasshopper project is the R&D effort to change that. The goal is to have the Falcon 9 return to earth using a autonomous, precision landing system. This system would guide the rocket to make a precise landing at a specified site so that the rocket could be reused.
The first test of Grasshopper was September 21st of this year. The new test was of Grasshopper occurred last week (November 1st). The new test, at 17.7 feet, more than doubled the height of the first test which was only 6 feet. The plan is conduct many tests, with increasingly larger "hops" over the next several years.
Wired did a nice write up of the test here.
Video of the first hop:
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