VIDEO: Rocket successfully returns to earth and lands safely for first time

A New Shepard rocket owned by the American company Blue Origin, has lifted off from a west Texas launch site.

The flight which was suborbital and only lasted eight minutes represents a key step in the company’s drive to make reusable rockets.

For the first time the rocket returned to Earth and landed safely.

The company Blue Origin is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The costs involved in space travel are enormous with a one time flight potentially using up the best part of 54 million euros, but reusable rockets could cut this by half.

Blue Origin are planning about two more years of test flights before it will offer rides to passengers.

The crafts are designed to carry six passengers about 100km above Earth, breaching the boundary between the atmosphere and space.