JUNIOR EDITION for Ages 6+
Great Companies: From Lab to Billions · Book 1

SpaceX: The Rocket That Comes Back

How can a rocket fly to space — and then come back and land on its tail?

In this book, you will find out…

When you grow up, you could…

Who is in the story

SiriSiriLoves mysteries. Writes in a secret notebook.
RosieRosieRocket engineer. Teaches with balloons and brooms.
CharlieCharlieAsks one good question — then lets Siri find out.
WarrenWarrenTurns up late. Thinks about a hundred years from now.

Today’s mystery

How can a rocket fly to space — and then come back and land on its tail?

Look for the clues. Try to guess the answer before Siri does!

Chapter 1

The Fire That Fell Up

🔍 How can a rocket land on its tail?
At midnight, Grandpa Ben's old compass started to buzz.
At midnight, Grandpa Ben's old compass started to buzz.
SiriIt's never done THIS before!
It spun. Then it pointed straight at her laptop.
It spun. Then it pointed straight at her laptop.
An old film played. A giant rocket flew up, then fell into the sea.
An old film played. A giant rocket flew up, then fell into the sea.
SiriThey threw the whole rocket away?
Then a new film. A rocket fell from space and landed on its tail!
Then a new film. A rocket fell from space and landed on its tail!
SiriFire going the wrong way? Impossible!
Grandpa's diary flipped open. New words shone on the page:
Grandpa's diary flipped open. New words shone on the page: "Who taught fire to come back?"
Siri made a plan. Find the answer before the compass goes quiet at sunrise.
Siri made a plan. Find the answer before the compass goes quiet at sunrise.
SiriHere we GO!
Chapter 2

Seven Doors

🔍 Where should she start?
She landed on a windy coast, under a white tower taller than a stadium.
She landed on a windy coast, under a white tower taller than a stadium.
SiriThat's not a building. It's a ROCKET!
A young engineer waved.
A young engineer waved.
RosieI'm Rosie. I teach fire some manners.
The people at the bottom looked like ants.
The people at the bottom looked like ants.
Rosie unrolled a map with seven doors.
Rosie unrolled a map with seven doors.
RosieWhich door first?
SiriHow it goes UP. Then the rest.
Siri had a guess. She blew up a balloon and let go.
Siri had a guess. She blew up a balloon and let go.
SiriI think a rocket works like this!
Rosie nodded. Throw a ball backward on a skateboard, and you roll forward.
Rosie nodded. Throw a ball backward on a skateboard, and you roll forward.
A test engine roared. Blue fire shot down, so the engine pushed up.
A test engine roared. Blue fire shot down, so the engine pushed up.
SiriMy guess was right!
🔎 Clue found!
Throw fire down fast, and the rocket is pushed up.
Then Siri frowned. Fire needs air. And there is no air in space!
Then Siri frowned. Fire needs air. And there is no air in space!
Chapter 3

A River of Frozen Air

🔍 How can fire burn where there is no air?
She put a jar over a candle.
She put a jar over a candle.
SiriI bet it goes out.
RosieWatch.
It did! So the rocket must bring its own air — super-cold liquid oxygen.
It did! So the rocket must bring its own air — super-cold liquid oxygen.
The pipe was so cold it smoked.
The pipe was so cold it smoked.
SiriWhy so cold?
RosieCold squeezes more air in.
Inside the engine, fuel and oxygen crash together. WHOOSH! A tiny sun.
Inside the engine, fuel and oxygen crash together. WHOOSH! A tiny sun.
🔎 Clue found!
A rocket carries its own oxygen, so its fire can burn in space.
Rosie showed a see-through rocket.
Rosie showed a see-through rocket.
SiriIt's mostly engine, right?
Wrong! Tiny engines. Tiny cargo. And a giant belly of fuel.
Wrong! Tiny engines. Tiny cargo. And a giant belly of fuel.
SiriIt's a fuel tank wearing a hat!
Chapter 4

The Broom on a Hand

🔍 Why doesn't a tall rocket tip over?
Rosie balanced a broom on her hand. Siri watched her wiggle.
Rosie balanced a broom on her hand. Siri watched her wiggle.
SiriSo the rocket wiggles its FIRE to stay up!
She was right. The engine tips a little. Tip the fire left, and the rocket leans right.
She was right. The engine tips a little. Tip the fire left, and the rocket leans right.
A computer checks which way is up. Many times every second.
A computer checks which way is up. Many times every second.
SiriIt never gets dizzy?
Siri’s notebook
Rocket = broom on fire. A computer does the wiggling.
Waffle fins popped out on a falling rocket. They steer it like the feathers on a dart.
Waffle fins popped out on a falling rocket. They steer it like the feathers on a dart.
High above the sea, a used rocket began to turn around.
High above the sea, a used rocket began to turn around.
SiriIt's coming HOME!
Chapter 5

Coming Home

🔍 How does a rocket land?
It fired its engines again. Now the fire was a brake.
It fired its engines again. Now the fire was a brake.
Legs snapped out. The fire touched the pad. It stood there, whole!
Legs snapped out. The fire touched the pad. It stood there, whole!
SiriIT LANDED!
🔎 Clue found!
To land, a rocket flips, brakes with fire, steers with fins and lands on legs.
The scorched rocket rolled back for a check-up.
The scorched rocket rolled back for a check-up.
SiriLike a car going to the garage!
Rosie smiled.
Rosie smiled.
RosieNext month, it flies again.
Siri thought about the old films.
Siri thought about the old films.
SiriOld rockets were like burning a plane after one trip!
Rosie drew a scale. A new rocket every time, or refuel the old one?
Rosie drew a scale. A new rocket every time, or refuel the old one?
SiriRefuel! That's much cheaper.
One rocket flew more than twenty times.
One rocket flew more than twenty times.
🔎 Clue found!
Flying the same rocket again makes going to space much cheaper.
Siri looked at rows and rows of rockets.
Siri looked at rows and rows of rockets.
SiriWho builds all of these?
Chapter 6

A Million Hands

🔍 Who makes a rocket fly?
A welder looked up.
A welder looked up.
WelderI only join two rings. But they must be perfect.
An engine roared on a stand, held down tight.
An engine roared on a stand, held down tight.
RosieWe test it before every flight.
In mission control, everyone watched one number each.
In mission control, everyone watched one number each.
Siri sat in a big chair.
Siri sat in a big chair.
SiriOne number each, and the whole rocket is safe!
Three… two… one… LIFT OFF! The ground shook.
Three… two… one… LIFT OFF! The ground shook.
SiriGO GO GO!
Welders, coders, even the cooks cheered. Every job helped lift it.
Welders, coders, even the cooks cheered. Every job helped lift it.
The compass pulled Siri through a gate with a name on it.
The compass pulled Siri through a gate with a name on it.
SiriSPACEX!
Chapter 7

The Last Try

🔍 Did it always work?
Long ago, one man bet almost everything on cheap rockets.
Long ago, one man bet almost everything on cheap rockets.
Their first small rocket launched from a tiny island.
Their first small rocket launched from a tiny island.
Then three launches in a row went wrong.
Then three launches in a row went wrong.
SiriThree crashes?
There was money for just ONE more try.
There was money for just ONE more try.
The fourth rocket flew all the way to space.
The fourth rocket flew all the way to space.
SiriThey made it — on the LAST try!
Years later, a used rocket came back and landed for the very first time.
Years later, a used rocket came back and landed for the very first time.
Later still, a SpaceX capsule carried astronauts into space.
Later still, a SpaceX capsule carried astronauts into space.
Chapter 8

Home Before Sunrise

🔍 So — who taught fire to come back?
An old friend of Grandpa's was waiting.
An old friend of Grandpa's was waiting.
CharlieWhat could break all this?
Siri thought hard.
Siri thought hard.
SiriOne bad crash. Or people who stop checking.
Siri laid out every clue. Charlie and Warren listened, and nodded.
Siri laid out every clue. Charlie and Warren listened, and nodded.
She joined her clues with red string. They made one web.
She joined her clues with red string. They made one web.
Siri woke up in her own bed. The compass was quiet.
Siri woke up in her own bed. The compass was quiet.
SiriWas it real?
At breakfast, a rocket launch was on the news. Now she knew how it worked.
At breakfast, a rocket launch was on the news. Now she knew how it worked.
A line of tiny lights crossed the dawn sky. Everyone ran to watch.
A line of tiny lights crossed the dawn sky. Everyone ran to watch.
Siri wrote the answer in her notebook.
Siri wrote the answer in her notebook.
SiriFire down. Own air. Balance. And never stop trying.

All the clues

  1. Throw fire down fast, and the rocket is pushed up.
  2. A rocket carries its own oxygen, so its fire can burn in space.
  3. To land, a rocket flips, brakes with fire, steers with fins and lands on legs.
  4. Flying the same rocket again makes going to space much cheaper.

So… How can a rocket fly to space — and then come back and land on its tail?

It throws fire down to go up. It carries its own air. A computer balances it on its fire. And a team that never gave up taught it to come home — so it can fly again.

OmahaIndia Junior · a simpler version of Book 1 for readers aged 6-8