Lockheed Martin and the United Launch Alliance, in partnership with NASA, have successfully launched the new Orion spacecraft today. It's the first of its kind --designed to be capable of deep space travel. History is being made right now as this mission marks a new record on the frontier of human spaceflight, nearly 15 times higher than the International Space Station

This system is undergoing some extreme tests today in the hopes that Orion could one day take astronauts to Mars.

After two orbits around the Earth, Orion will actually accelerate before reentry and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. This is to simulate the high speeds it would face if returning from further out in space. One aim is to test the heat shields, among other systems.

To keep up with the mission, check out NASA's livestream