Space rocket explodes seconds after take-off but described as a ‘success’

March 30, 2025 journo

A test rocket has fallen to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after take-off from a Norwegian space port.

German startup Isar Aerospace said this was an initial test as part of a project aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe.

“We had a clean lift-off, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System,” said Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-founder of Isar Aerospace.

“Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success.“

German startup Isar Aerospace explodes after falling down in Norway — The company described the launch as a success. (Isar Aerospace/handout/NTB/via Reuters)

The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed as the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe, where several nations, including Sweden and Britain, have said they want a share of a growing market for commercial space missions.

Isar Aerospace, which had warned that the initial launch could end prematurely, said the test produced extensive data that its team could learn from.

The company said it would analyse all the data from the test run and be back on the launch pad as soon as possible.

Launch vehicles for the second and third flight of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum are already in production, the company said.

Bulent Altan, Isar Aerospace chairman and former SpaceX executive, congratulated the team.

“The Isar Aerospace team did a fantastic job,” he said.

An orbital space rocket stands on a launchpad at Andoya Spaceport — Launch vehicles for more flights of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum are in production. (Simon Fischer/Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media via AP)

“This test flight met our expectations for a first launch with a completely clean slate design, in every way.”

He added that he was “very confident” that Isar Aerospace would be one of the fastest companies to reach orbit.

Global players in the satellite launch market include Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which launches from the United States, and French ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran that uses a spaceport in South America’s French Guiana.

Sweden, with its Esrange launch site and Britain with its SaxaVord Spaceport in the Scottish Shetland Islands, are the nearest rivals to the Norwegian site, all of which aim to give Europe greater autonomy in space flights.

Reuters