SpaceX successfully carried out a test flight and landing of its prototype SN15 rocket this week.

According to an article on space.com, the SN15 launched from SpaceX’s test site in South Texas at 18:24 EST (22:24 GMT) in a test flight that lasted six minutes. It propelled to a height of 6.2 kilometres (10 miles) before eventually landing back at a designated launch pad.

Compared to previous test flights of SpaceX’s rockets, this one proved to be an all-out success. Predecessors to the SN15 rocket had failed to complete a safe touchdown. This includes SN10, which seemingly performed a secure landing, only to explode eight minutes after arriving back down to the surface.

These are experiences that SpaceX have seemingly learnt from.

“SN15 has vehicle improvements across structures, avionics and software, and the engines that will allow more speed and efficiency throughout production and flight: specifically, a new enhanced avionics suite, updated propellant architecture in the aft skirt, and a new Raptor engine design and configuration,” said representatives of SpaceX.

This launch coincidentally occurred on the 60th anniversary of the US’ maiden crewed spaceflight led by NASA astronaut Alan Shepard. He crewed the Freedom 7 spacecraft which launched from Cape Canaveral on May 5th 1961.