The engine shuddered to life around half past noon local time on Sunday, and with a guttural roar, the 92-foot-tall Spectrum rocket lifted slowly away from its launch tower, marking the first liftoff of its kind on the European continent.
The rocket, launched by Isar Aerospace from within the Arctic Circle at a spaceport on the icy Norwegian island of Andøya, was the first orbital flight outside of Russia to leave continental Europe. About 30 seconds after the rocket cleared the launchpad, it pitched to the side and plummeted back to earth.
Despite the crash, Daniel Metzler, the chief executive of Isar Aerospace, expressed optimism, stating that the test flight had “met all our expectations, achieving a great success.” He noted that the flight included a clean liftoff and validation of the Flight Termination System. The rocket fell directly into the sea, and there were no injuries or damage to the launchpad.
The Andøya Spaceport could not be reached for immediate comment, but earlier it activated “crisis management” and stated it was collaborating with emergency services and Isar Aerospace following the incident.
This test flight was the culmination of seven years of work for Isar Aerospace, a German-based company founded in 2018 with the goal of making satellite launches more accessible from Europe. The European space sector has been advancing in technology and research, focusing on defense and geopolitical applications.
Mr. Metzler had previously acknowledged the challenges of launching, stating, “There’s about a million things that can go wrong and only one way things actually go right.” He expressed satisfaction with achieving a 30-second flight, which would provide valuable data for future improvements. This duration was realized during the flight on Sunday.
In a video interview prior to the launch, he referenced SpaceX’s journey, noting that the company had three unsuccessful attempts before successfully launching a rocket into orbit in 2008.
Several private companies in Europe are developing spaceports for a new generation of rockets. Initiatives include revamping an old research base in Sweden and opening a space center in Cornwall, England. However, failures can be expensive; for instance, Virgin Orbit ceased operations following its unsuccessful launch attempt in 2023.
Mr. Metzler emphasized the importance of space in contemporary geopolitics and as a significant economic opportunity. Isar Aerospace has raised over $430 million in funding from various international investors, including support from NATO’s Innovation Fund.