In Photos: SpaceX's 1st Falcon Heavy Rocket Test Launch Success!

Landing Legs

SpaceX

The Octaweb

SpaceX

The 27 Merlin engines that power the Falcon Heavy's three cores are arranged in an "Octaweb" configuration.

Falcon Heavy on the Pad

Robert Pearlman/CollectSPACE.com

The Falcon Heavy rocket stands tall on Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Falcon Heavy on the Pad

Robert Pearlman/CollectSPACE.com

The Falcon Heavy rocket stands tall on Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Falcon Heavy on the Pad

Robert Pearlman/CollectSPACE.com

The Falcon Heavy rocket stands tall on Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Falcon Heavy Launch

SpaceX

SpaceX's new Falcon Heavy rocket soars into the sky after a successful liftoff from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Feb. 6, 2018.

Falcon Heavy Stage 2

SpaceX

In this screenshot from SpaceX's live webcast of the launch, you can see some of the equipment used to hold the three boosters together.

Booster Separation

SpaceX

Seconds after the booster engines cut off, the three stages separated and prepared to return to Earth for a triple landing.

Falcon Heavy Stage 2

SpaceX

The Falcon Heavy's second stage is pictured above the Earth just before the payload fairings were jettisoned.

Falcon Heavy Stage 2

SpaceX

A view of the Tesla Roadster above the ocean as it heads into space

Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.