WASHINGTON: The private space firm founded by Internet entrepreneur Jeff Bezos claimed a breakthrough for its space travel efforts on Tuesday with the launch of a reusable rocket.

Bezos announced the milestone with his first Twitter message following the launch and return of the rocket by his firm, Blue Origin.

“The rarest of beasts -- a used rocket. Controlled landing not easy, but done right, can look easy. Check out video,” said the tweet, with a link to a YouTube video.

The unmanned New Shepard rocket blasted off from its launch site in Texas and then returned and landed safely, representing a coup for space flight.

“Rockets have always been expendable. Not anymore,” Jeff Bezos said in a blog post on the Blue Origin website. He told CBS that the successful launch and return was a major step toward enabling space travel.

“That’s a game-changer because it changes the cost structure of space travel completely,” he added.

“Our long-term vision is millions of people living and working in space and continuing to explore the solar system and reusability is a total game-changer for that.”

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015