Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum Test Launch Rocket Lifted Off And Subsequently Exploded, Aborting at T+30 Seconds
The flight from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport marked the first time a rocket capable of reaching orbit was launched from continental Europe (excluding Russia), per Isar.
(Andøya, Norway) Munich-based satellite launch company Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum launch test vehicle took off from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport today (March 30) at 12.30pm CEST (6.30am EST / 0830 GMT) – prior to falling down to the Norwegian Sea seconds later, and the mission aborting early at T+ 30 seconds – making Isar the first European commercial space company to launch an orbital rocket from continental Europe (with the exception of Russia), according to the company.
Photo of Isar’s Spectrum rocket taking off Norway’s Andøya Spaceport today at 12.30pm CEST (6.30am EST / 0830 GMT), prior to falling down to the Norwegian Sea and the mission being aborted at T+30 seconds – courtesy of Isar Aerospace’s Instagram account, @isaraerospace.
The launch – and subsequent explosion – video can be viewed here, via NASASpaceflight on YouTube.
Per Isar Aerospace, Spetrum’s first test flight was a success, despite termination at T+30 seconds, when the test rocket “fell directly into the sea in a controlled manner.”
The first test flight met Isar’s set goals, and the flight data and experienced garnered will pave the way for future missions, per today’s release from Isar. The launch pad at Andøya Spaceport remains intact, and Spectrum launch vehicles #2 and #3 are already in production, according to the company.
Daniel Metzler, CEO and co-Founder of Isar Aerospace’s, said: “Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success. We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System. We demonstrated that we can not only design and build but also launch rockets. I could not be prouder of our entire team for working so hard over the past seven years to reach this important milestone. Today, we laid the foundation to cater to the rising global demand for flexible satellite launch services. Now it’s time to analyze all data, learn, iterate and be back on the launch pad as soon as possible.”
Earlier launch attempts of Isar’s Spectrum rocket on Monday, March 24th and Saturday, March 29th were scrubbed due to weather restrictions.
Isar Aerospace and other European start-ups are scrambling to seize a segment of a rapidly expanding space race, which is currently dominated by companies and government-owned entities in the United States and China, per CNN.
Isar’s two-stage Spectrum rocket is 28 meters, or ~ 91.8 feet, tall, compared to SpaceX’s 70-meter, or 229.6-foot tall, Falcon 9 reusable rocket.
