What capability was validated by the first successful landing on the drone ship *Of Course I Still Love You*?
Answer
The ability of guidance systems to guide the stage to a precise, moving point over water.
This milestone proved that the complex guidance, navigation, and control systems could successfully target a precise, moving platform over the ocean, validating the recovery concept for distant missions.
#Videos
Why SpaceX Chose To Land Off Coast of the Bahamas - YouTube
Why SpaceX Really Lands In The Ocean (Physics) - YouTube
Related Questions
Why is propulsive landing for the Falcon 9 first stage pursued, despite the spectacle?What fundamental trade-off governs the design choice between landing performance and payload delivery?For missions targeting Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from Cape Canaveral, which trajectory is generally preferred?When is utilizing an Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASD) essential for a first stage landing?What must the ASD employ to ensure a successful landing catch of the descending booster?In terms of mass delivery capability for high-energy orbits, how does $M_{RTLS}$ compare to $M_{exp}$?Compared to an expendable mission, how does choosing a drone ship landing affect payload mass delivery?What complex requirement must the booster satisfy when targeting a drone ship hundreds of miles away?What factor primarily dictates the selection of the *closest* possible drone ship location for a mission?What capability was validated by the first successful landing on the drone ship *Of Course I Still Love You*?What key advantage does the ability to perform ocean landings grant SpaceX regarding launch flexibility?