The first orbital rocket launched from mainland Europe took off from Norway on Sunday – but crashed into the sea and exploded 40 seconds later.
The unmanned Spectrum rocket blasted off from the Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, on Sunday at 12.30pm local time before it was terminated less than a minute later.
Isar Aerospace, the German company that built the rocket, had warned that the launch could end prematurely. It maintained that despite being short, the flight had produced extensive data that its team could learn from.
“Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success,” Daniel Metzler, Isar’s chief executive and co-founder, said.
Isar Aerospace test rocket Spectrum lifts off for a test flight. Pic: Isar Aerospace via AP
“We had a clean lift-off, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our flight termination system.”
Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle specifically designed to put small and medium satellites into orbit.
Its maiden voyage was aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe.
Several European nations, including the UK and Sweden, have said they want to be an active player in the growing market of commercial space missions.
The flight was terminated after 40 seconds. Pic: Isar Aerospace via AP
Big global companies already ahead in the satellite launch game include Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which launches from the US, and French company ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran that uses a spaceport in South America’s French Guiana.
Mr Musk’s SpaceX also operates the Starlink satellite service, a communications network that can provide much of the globe with access to the internet.
Isar said the flight was a success despite it crashing into the sea. Pic: Isar Aerospace via AP
Germany’s BDLI aerospace industries association said Isar’s first flight would lead to further progress.
BDLI managing director, Marie-Christine von Hahn, said: “Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space. Elon Musk’s Starlink is not without alternatives – nor should it be.”
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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.
SaxaVord, which suffered a setback when a rocket engine exploded during a test last year, is planning its first satellite launch later this year.