The Bloodhound Supersonic rocket car test was streamed online
Engineers have conducted a landmark test of Europe's largest hybrid rocket car in Cornwall.
The test of the Bloodhound rocket engine in a large hangar at Newquay Cornwall airport was a milestone in the quest to break the land speed record.
The team behind the Bloodhound Supersonic Car hope it will eventually reach four-figure speeds and break the current world land speed record of 763mph.
The Bloodhound was put through its paces at the airport in front of an audience of 400 people, streamed live online.
It is described as the largest rocket car of its kind to be designed in Europe, and the biggest rocket test in the UK in 20 years.
Bloodhound's engineers were testing the complete rocket system for the first time, and the full team including project director Richard Noble, driver Andy Green and the engineering team were present.
The rocket's designer, Daniel Jubb, surveyed the sensor data and said he was satisfied with the way the experiment had gone.
Chief engineer Mark Chapman said before the test that any result from the first full testing of the car would be worthwhile.
"Pretty much anything we get out of Newquay will be a success," he had said.
"It is unusual that (the public) are seeing a rocket very early in development.
"When you see this thing work or fail it will be the first time we see it work or fail.
"We're very confident this will work. The worst thing that could happen is nothing could happen but that also lets us know what else has failed."
