Failure of Spectrum Rocket’s Maiden Flight in Norway: A Learning Experience for Isar Aerospace

The Spectrum rocket, developed by the German start-up Isar Aerospace, launched on Sunday, March 30, from the Andoya spaceport in Norway’s Arctic region. However, its maiden flight ended in failure: just seconds after takeoff, the rocket began to oscillate, flipped over, and crashed near its launch site, generating a powerful explosion.

A Test Flight Full of Valuable Insights

This first attempt, postponed several times due to weather conditions, was not expected to reach Earth orbit. Before the launch, Daniel Metzler, co-founder and CEO of Isar Aerospace, emphasized that “every second of flight is valuable as it allows us to gather data and gain experience.” The company is pleased to have achieved 30 seconds of flight and successfully tested its flight termination system, which ensures the safe shutdown of the launcher in case of failure.

A Step Toward European Space Independence

Standing 28 meters tall with a payload capacity of one ton, Spectrum is designed to place payloads into Earth’s orbit. This launch marked the first attempt from continental Europe to send an orbital rocket from a ground-based launch pad. In 2023, a previous attempt in Britain, conducted by Virgin Orbit using a Boeing 747 as a launcher, also ended in failure, leading to the company’s bankruptcy.

Despite this setback, Isar Aerospace remains optimistic and plans two more test flights in the coming months. The company aims to use these tests to refine its technology and contribute to Europe’s push for greater autonomy in space exploration.