A German start-up’s orbital rocket, Spectrum, spun out and crashed seconds after take-off on Sunday in a test flight from a spaceport in northern Norway. Despite the rocket’s short flight of approximately 30 seconds, Isar Aerospace, the company behind the launch, described the mission as a success, meeting its set goals.
The flight marked a significant milestone as the first time a rocket capable of reaching orbit was launched from continental Europe, excluding Russia. The rocket fell into the Norwegian Sea shortly after liftoff, but Isar Aerospace stated that the test provided valuable flight data and insights for future missions.
Isar Aerospace, along with other European start-ups, is striving to make its mark in the growing space race, traditionally led by companies and government entities in the U.S. and China. CEO and co-founder Daniel Metzler expressed pride in the achievement, highlighting Europe’s potential in space exploration.
While the European Space Agency and entities like Ariane Group have launched rockets from spaceports outside Europe, Isar’s flight represents a crucial step toward Europe's independent access to space. With competitors like SpaceX leading the way, European companies are keen to develop their own capabilities to serve customers globally and address security gaps within the continent.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)