SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket deploys cargo to ISS but fails to make a successful 'soft landing' on return to earth

Founder Elon Musk tweeted the landing was 'Close, but no cigar this time'

The Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral (AP)

SpaceX’s uncrewed Falcon 9 rocket has landed “hard” having detached supplies for the International Space Station (ISS) and after a delayed launch.

The Falcon 9 took off this morning at 9.47GMT, after being delayed because of a problem with its “thrust vector control actuator”, and successfully detached more than 5,000 pounds of cargo and scientific instruments for ISS in its Dragon module.

Founder of SpaceX Elon Musk tweeted during the successful take-off and return to earth, writing: “Rocket made it to drone spaceport ship, but landed hard. Close, but no cigar this time. Bodes well for the future tho.”

Mr Musk also implied that the rocket had fractured on returning, adding in another tweet: “Will piece it together from telemetry and … actual pieces.”

The unprecedented ‘soft’ landing was acknowledged to be the hardest stage of the rocket’s journey: SpaceX planned to bring the 70ft wide, 14 stories tall rocket down on an ocean platform just 300ft across and 100ft wide, 200 miles east of Jacksonville, Florida.

The company compared the attempt to balancing "a rubber broomstick on your hand in the middle of a wind storm," according to The Verge.

Falcon 9 appears to be relatively “fine” condition according to Mr Musk, but he also tweeted that: “Some of the support equipment on the deck will need to be replaced.”