Falcon Heavy: Elon Musk's giant SpaceX rocket makes triumphant launch

• SpaceX rocket lifts off on trailblazing deep space mission
• At least two of three reusable rockets return safely to Earth
• Space oddity: how Elon Musk and SpaceX sent a car towards Mars
• Space X Falcon Heavy launch - as it happened

The world's most powerful new space rocket blasted into the heavens above Florida's east coast on Tuesday afternoon on a trailblazing deep-space mission that Elon Musk, founder of the private aerospace company SpaceX, believes could spell "game over" for his commercial spaceflight rivals.

The Falcon Heavy, which will provide the United States a heavy-lift capability in space not seen since the Saturn V rockets of the Apollo era, made a flawless ascent through clear blue skies, with at least two of its three reusable boosters returning safely to earth.