Morpheus Lander has successful test flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA scientists finished up their first night test for the Morpheus Lander.

The lander launched from a pad at Kennedy Space Center just after 10 p.m. Wednesday

It hovered more than 650 feet in the air before making a safe landing.

NASA is hoping the Morpheus Lander will eventually help deliver astronauts to the moon or Mars.

The spacecraft is the first NASA prototype to be propelled using liquid oxygen and liquid methane.

It’s equipped with laser sensors that help the lander map its landing surface to avoid dangerous conditions.

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