A major milestone for Europe’s space ambitions took a dramatic turn on Sunday when the continent’s first orbital rocket launch ended in disaster just seconds after liftoff. The Spectrum rocket, developed by German startup Isar Aerospace, exploded shortly after taking off from the Andøya Spaceport in Norway.
A Historic — but Short — Flight
This was the first time an orbital rocket was launched from mainland Europe (excluding Russia), and the first such attempt almost entirely funded by the private sector. The 28-meter, two-stage Spectrum rocket blasted off from a remote Arctic site, only to quickly trail smoke, veer off course, and crash back to Earth in a powerful explosion. All of this was caught live on YouTube.
While no payload was onboard for the test flight, the event was meant to demonstrate the rocket’s capability to eventually carry satellites into orbit.
Expectations Were Already Tempered
Isar Aerospace had been realistic about the chances of success. The launch had already been delayed several times due to poor weather, and company CEO Daniel Metzler said ahead of the flight:
“Every second we fly is good, because we collect data and experience. Thirty seconds would already be a great success.”
He added that they didn’t expect to reach orbit on this first attempt, noting that no company has ever succeeded in sending its debut orbital rocket into space.
What Went Wrong?
The rocket began to smoke just after launch and lost control, eventually crashing back with a fiery impact. While details on the failure are still emerging, the company will analyze the flight data to pinpoint what went wrong and improve future designs.
A Setback, Not a Stop
Despite the crash, the launch marks a major step for European private space efforts. Spectrum is designed to eventually carry up to 1,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit, helping to reduce Europe’s reliance on U.S. and Russian launch providers.
The attempt follows a failed 2023 orbital launch by Virgin Orbit from the UK, which led to the company folding.
Isar Aerospace says it will continue its mission and aims to bring Spectrum to commercial readiness. The company hopes to try again soon and, in doing so, push Europe further into the competitive space race.
