SpaceX launched a rocket bound for the International Space Station on Friday — but what happens next has everyone sitting on the edge of their seats.

With the Dragon capsule safely in orbit and well on its way to the space station, the first stage separated and is now re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. As the helium-filled rocket slows, it will extend four 25-foot-long landing legs and use its thrusters to briefly hover over the Atlantic Ocean before plopping down ever so gently onto the surface.

If all goes to plan, it will be the most important thing SpaceX has accomplished to date, CEO Elon Musk tells Mashable. Musk has already made two of 12 slated cargo deliveries to the ISS as part of his $1.6 billion contract with NASA, and that is this launch’s primary goal. But Musk has been working behind the curtain to test out the reusability of this rocket.

This is 1st ever orbital rocket launch w landing legs. Will attempt leg deploy & soft landing out to sea. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 18, 2014

Today's launch was the third try for the rocket — the previous two attempts were rescheduled. Here's how it looked to observers watching the web stream on Friday, compliments of Recode’s Anthony Quintano.

















Amanda Wills contributed to this report.