A test rocket designed to initiate satellite launches from Europe crashed and exploded 40 seconds after liftoff from a Norwegian spaceport on Sunday, as reported by the German startup Isar Aerospace, which characterized the event as a preliminary test.
The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was promoted as the first effort to achieve orbital flight from Europe, where several countries, including Sweden and the UK, have expressed interest in participating in the expanding commercial space mission market.
Isar Aerospace had cautioned that the launch might conclude prematurely, but stated that the test yielded valuable data for their team to analyze.
Launched from Norway’s Arctic Andøya Spaceport, the Spectrum is intended for small and medium-sized satellites weighing up to one metric ton, although it did not carry any payload during its inaugural flight.
Key players in the satellite launch industry include Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which operates from the United States, and the French ArianeGroup, a collaboration between Airbus and Safran that utilizes a spaceport in French Guiana, South America.
SpaceX also runs the Starlink satellite service, a global communications network.
Germany’s BDLI aerospace industry association noted that Isar’s initial flight would pave the way for future advancements.
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“Europe must urgently secure its sovereignty in space. Alternatives to Elon Musk’s Starlink exist and should be developed,” stated BDLI Managing Director Marie-Christine von Hahn.
The mission on Sunday aimed to gather data on the company’s internally developed launch vehicle, marking the first comprehensive test of all its systems, according to Isar Aerospace from Bavaria.
Sweden, with its Esrange launch facility, and the UK, with its SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands, are the closest competitors to the Norwegian site, all striving to enhance Europe’s independence in space exploration.
SaxaVord, which experienced a setback due to a rocket engine explosion during a test last year, is targeting its first satellite launch for the third quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, Esrange is also planning to conduct its first launch within this year.
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