SpaceX releases first test video of the giant rocket that could launch people to Mars

Nice to meet you, Falcon Heavy. Are you ready to take us to Mars?

After years of keeping space nerds around the world on the edge of their collective seat, SpaceX has finally released the first video of its new Falcon Heavy rocket in the midst of a test.

The new video shows the Falcon Heavy held down on its pad as SpaceX fires the rocket's engines to test them out, and all seems to go well.

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This is a big moment for SpaceX (and fans of the company in general) because the Falcon Heavy -- the largest rocket yet developed by the company -- represents the future for the Elon Musk-founded spaceflight organization.

Once it moves out of its testing phase, the rocket is designed to eventually bring robotic payloads -- and possibly people -- out to destinations far from Earth like the moon or Mars.

It will also be reusable, meaning that SpaceX should be able to land Falcon Heavy rocket stages back on Earth after flying to space, reducing the cost of launching to orbit and even beyond.

According to SpaceX, the Falcon Heavy -- the largest rocket yet developed by the company -- should make its maiden voyage to space sometime later this year, but it's been a long time coming.

The huge rocket has been in development for years, with the company constantly pushing back its timeline for flight. But now, it actually looks like we're going to get some high-flying rocket action in the coming months.