A European private aerospace startup successfully conducts the maiden test flight of its orbital launch vehicle

A privately-owned European aerospace company launched its Spectrum rocket from Norway on Sunday, but the flight ended just 30 seconds later when the vehicle crashed into the sea.  

Despite the brief test, Isar Aerospace described the launch as a success, marking the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle from the Andøya island site in northern Norway.  

The Spectrum rocket, a 28-meter (92-foot) two-stage vehicle designed to carry small and medium satellites into orbit, lifted off at 12:30 p.m. local time (1030 GMT). The flight was intentionally terminated after 30 seconds, with the rocket descending into the sea in a controlled manner.  

“This flight provided us with significant data and valuable experience for future missions,” Isar Aerospace stated. Video footage captured the rocket's ascent before it descended and exploded upon impact with the sea.  

The launch followed a week of weather-related delays, including a postponed attempt on March 24 due to high winds and another on Saturday due to adverse conditions.  

“Our first test flight met all expectations and was a major success,” said Daniel Metzler, CEO and co-founder of Isar Aerospace. “We achieved a clean liftoff, a stable 30-second flight, and validated our Flight Termination System.”  

The company had anticipated that the rocket would not reach orbit on its initial flight and had set a 30-second duration as a benchmark for success. The test aimed to evaluate all integrated systems of the in-house-developed launch vehicle.  

Isar Aerospace operates independently of the European Space Agency (ESA), which is funded by its 23 member states.  

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher acknowledged the achievement on X, stating, “Success in lifting off and gathering extensive data. I am confident @isaraerospace will gain valuable insights. Rocket launches are challenging—never give up, keep pushing forward!”  

While ESA has been launching rockets for years, its missions have primarily taken place from French Guiana and Cape Canaveral in Florida.