New York (CNN Business) A prototype of SpaceX's Mars rocket roared to life Thursday night, lifting the vehicle into the air for a landmark test.

It was the first time the experimental craft, nicknamed "Starhopper," flew free without being tethered to the ground.

SpaceX's goal was to lift the spacecraft about 65 feet into the air before gently landing it nearby — what's SpaceX called a "hop test." It's not clear exactly how high the craft flew. Footage captured by reporters present at the South Texas launch site show fire and smoke erupting from Starhopper's massive Raptor rocket engine, obscuring the vehicle from view.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the flight was a success.

"Water towers *can* fly," he joked in a tweet, referencing Starhopper's likeness to a cylindrical water tank. He also shared views of the launch that were captured by a nearby drone and a camera near the Raptor engine.

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