SpaceX has launched the first Falcon Heavy rocket into space for the first time since its launch vehicle debuted on May 6, 2019.
The company is now working to get all of its Falcon Heavy rockets on the ground and into the air, with the final test flight slated for April 20.
The rocket is a modified version of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 first stage, with an upgraded Merlin 1D engine and a more powerful cryogenic first stage.
The launch is a first test of SpaceX technology on a long-term basis, the company said.
First launch in a year is a major milestone for SpaceX and the company’s ambitious plan to make a Mars-bound capsule in space for tourists by the mid 2020s.
The rocket has a payload capacity of 12,000 kilograms and a range of 5,000 kilometres.
It is designed to carry astronauts to Mars.