SpaceX succeeded in launching the Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time this afternoon. The rocket lifted off at 3:45 pm ET from Kennedy Space Center, FL. The three cores of the first stage worked as planned as did the second stage, placing the payload — a cherry red Tesla Roadster — into space. The mission is not over yet, but so far it has proceeded as planned.

SpaceX has not announced if there will be a post-launch press conference. Check back here later for more on this breaking news story.

Meanwhile here are photos of the launch and the landing back at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station of the two side cores. The fate of the central core is uncertain.