If we downplay the difference between the landing modes and vehicle&#x27;s missions, then SpaceX has beaten Blue Origin anyway - they had Grasshoppers doing VTOL years ago. After all, what&#x27;s the difference between 700m and 100km, especially if in the latter case you&#x27;re falling at terminal velocity for most of the way?<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Grasshopper_%28rocket%29" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Grasshopper_%28rocket%29</a>