SpaceX’s latest launch and recovery attempt: We explain it all

A SpaceX rocket launch grabbed the public’s attention once again Friday when a ship wielding a net made a failed attempt to grab the rocket’s fairing as it fell back to Earth.
Wait, what?
1. What is a fairing?
The nose cone, or fairing, is located at the very tip of the rocket. It acts a shield for satellites during launch. Once the rocket is in space, the fairing splits into two and falls away. After most rocket launches, the fairing is left to plummet toward a watery grave in the o