In a dramatic setback for Europe’s burgeoning private space industry, German start-up Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket exploded just seconds after its inaugural launch from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport on Sunday. The 28-meter (92-foot) orbital rocket, designed to carry small and medium satellites into space, suffered an anomaly 30 seconds into flight, tumbling uncontrollably before crashing into the Norwegian Sea in a fiery explosion .
Despite the catastrophic failure, Isar Aerospace CEO Daniel Metzler hailed the test as a success, emphasizing that the mission achieved its primary goal of gathering critical flight data. "Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success," Metzler said in a statement. "We demonstrated that we can not only design and build but also launch rockets." The company confirmed that the rocket’s flight termination system, a safety mechanism to destroy errant vehicles activated as planned, preventing a more dangerous uncontrolled descent .
The launch marked a historic milestone as the first attempt to send an orbital-class rocket into space from continental Europe (excluding Russia) and the continent’s first privately funded orbital launch effort. The Spectrum rocket, capable of carrying up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs) to low-Earth orbit, was uncrewed and carried no payload during the test .
A Rocky Start for Europe’s Space Ambitions
The failure underscores Europe’s struggle to compete in the global space race, dominated by U.S. firms like SpaceX and China’s state-backed programs. While the European Space Agency (ESA) has long launched rockets from French Guiana, the continent lacks indigenous orbital launch capabilities. Isar Aerospace, founded in 2018, aims to fill that gap, positioning itself as a potential rival to Elon Musk’s SpaceX .
Marie-Christine von Hahn of the German Aerospace Industries Association called the launch a "groundbreaking step" despite the crash, noting that the data collected would accelerate future development. "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space," she said, alluding to reliance on foreign satellite networks like SpaceX’s Starlink .
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What Went Wrong?
Video footage showed the rocket veering off course shortly after liftoff, with its engines cutting out before impact. While the exact cause remains unclear, experts speculate potential guidance system failures or structural issues. The Andøya Spaceport, built specifically for Isar Aerospace, reported no damage to its facilities .
Looking Ahead
Isar Aerospace has already secured contracts, including a deal with Norway to launch Arctic surveillance satellites by 2028. Metzler remains optimistic, stating the test laid the foundation for future missions. "We will be able to serve customers worldwide," he asserted .
The failure follows other European setbacks, including Virgin Orbit’s 2023 bankruptcy after a similar launch disaster. With competitors like Sweden’s Esrange and the UK’s SaxaVord Spaceport also vying for market share, the race to establish Europe as a spacefaring power is far from over .
For video of the failed launch, see DW’s report
