Space X Grasshopper 100M Lateral divert test

On August 13th, the Falcon 9 test rig (code name Grasshopper) completed a divert test, flying to a 250m altitude with a 100m lateral maneuver before returning to the center of the pad. The test demonstrated the vehicle's ability to perform more aggressive steering maneuvers than have been attempted in previous flights.

Grasshopper is taller than a ten story building, which makes the control problem particularly challenging. Diverts like this are an important part of the trajectory in order to land the rocket precisely back at the launch site after reentering from space at hypersonic velocity. 

So what does all this mean for spaceflight? Grasshopper is a prototype, the first step to a truly reusable launch system. Current boosters are expendable, after every launch each stage of the rocket jettisoned and allowed to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere. Whatever survives re-entry is destroyed on impact with the ocean (land in the case of Russian rockets) in other words; a new rocket has to be manufactured for every launch. The space shuttle was the only reusable spacecraft ever put into service and even then it was not 100% reusable as the external fuel tank is never recovered. With every successful test of grasshopper space X gets closer and closer to achieving the goal of a reusable launch system.

Source:SpaceX