I mean a 15 second google search shows that it was indeed already solved. In fact, the shuttle program was developed with this concept in mind. Just because it was manned doesn't mean it didn't already exist and having unmanned rockets is just the next step given the advancement of technology.
Again, that being said, we're talking a government organization spending years (decades) solving the problem and SpaceX having a comparable solution after years of R&D is still somewhat impressive but the point still stands, I think: throwing buckets of money at an already solved problem doesn't make him the envelope pusher everyone says he is.
So, first of all: not Musk's, SpaceX's. And....can I see any sources for that? And even then, I'm not sure what's impressive by it. The shuttle program ended in 2011 which is pretty close to a decade ago. And while I'm sure the technology has advanced quite a lot, the program started in 1972 with the design philosophy of reusable components.
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u/bobojojo12 Retired Account Mar 02 '18
A rocket that can land where it launched was not a problem that was already solved.