Isar Aerospace's Spectrum Rocket Crashes Into Sea After 30-Second Test Flight

Post by: Raman Preet

Photo : AP

A rocket made by the private European company Isar Aerospace was launched from Norway on Sunday. However, just 30 seconds after takeoff, the rocket crashed into the sea. Despite the short flight, the company called the test mission a success.

The rocket, named Spectrum, was launched from the island of Andøya in northern Norway at 12:30 p.m. local time (1030 GMT). The rocket, which is 28 meters (92 feet) long, is designed to carry small and medium-sized satellites into orbit.

Rocket Crashes but Test Considered Successful
According to Isar Aerospace, the rocket flew for about half a minute before the flight was deliberately stopped. The Flight Termination System (FTS) was activated, and the rocket fell into the sea in a controlled manner.

The company said that even though the rocket did not reach space, the test flight provided them with valuable data. This information will help improve future launches.

In a statement, the company explained,

“This allowed us to gather a large amount of flight data and experience that we can use for our future missions.”

Fiery Crash Caught on Camera
A video of the launch shows the rocket taking off, soaring into the sky, and then suddenly falling back down. It exploded into flames as it hit the sea.

The test was affected by weather conditions. The launch had already been delayed several times. It was originally planned for March 24, but strong winds forced the company to cancel it. Another attempt on Saturday was also called off due to poor weather.

Company Views It as a Win
Despite the fiery crash, Isar Aerospace’s CEO and co-founder, Daniel Metzler, called the mission a success. He said,

“Our first test flight met all our expectations. We had a clean liftoff, a 30-second flight, and we successfully validated our Flight Termination System.”

The company had not expected the rocket to reach orbit during its first full test. Instead, they aimed to gather as much data as possible about how the rocket and its systems performed.

Separate From ESA
It’s worth noting that Isar Aerospace is not connected. The ESA is funded by 23 European countries and has been launching rockets and satellites for many years. Most ESA launches take place from French Guiana in South America or Cape Canaveral in Florida.

After the test, Josef Aschbacher, the Director General of ESA, praised Isar Aerospace’s efforts. He posted on X (formerly Twitter),

“Success to get off the pad, and lots of data already obtained. I am sure @isaraerospace will learn a lot. Rocket launch is hard. Never give up, move forward with even more energy!”

Even though the test ended with a crash, the mission provided important insights. The company will use the data to improve their future rockets and bring them closer to successfully sending satellites into orbit.

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