AssetID: 54635411
Headline: RAW VIDEO: European Test Rocket Spectacularly Explodes Shortly After Launch
Caption: A test rocket intended to boost Europe's satellite launch capabilities crashed into the sea moments after lift-off - though the firm responsible claims it was all part of the plan. The unmanned Spectrum rocket, developed by German start-up Isar Aerospace, launched from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport on Sunday. Isar Aerospace had cautioned ahead of the test that the flight could be cut short. The company stated that the 30-second flight was sufficient to gather valuable data for future missions. The launch occurred at 12:30 PM CEST on Sunday (30March2025), with the rocket successfully lifting off before its flight was intentionally terminated after half a minute. The vehicle then fell into the sea in a controlled manner. Safety measures ensured that no personnel were at risk during the test. “Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success,” said Daniel Metzler, CEO and co-founder of Isar Aerospace. “We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System. We demonstrated that we can not only design and build but also launch rockets. I could not be prouder of our entire team for working so hard over the past seven years to reach this important milestone. “Today, we laid the foundation to cater to the rising global demand for flexible satellite launch services. Now it’s time to analyze all data, learn, iterate and be back on the launch pad as soon as possible.” Metzler added that the company would now analyse the data collected and refine the systems for future launches. The test flight marks a significant milestone for the European space sector, which has faced challenges in developing an independent commercial launch capability. Isar Aerospace, which has its headquarters near Munich, aims to produce up to 40 Spectrum launch vehicles per year in the future. The company employs a highly automated production approach, ensuring flexibility and cost efficiency in its operations. Bulent Altan, Chairman of Isar Aerospace and a former SpaceX executive, praised the team’s efforts: “The Isar Aerospace team did a fantastic job. This test flight met our expectations for a first launch with a completely clean slate design, in every way. As I have experienced before, it normally can take a few attempts to reach orbit, yet after today’s test flight, I am very confident that Isar Aerospace will be one of the fastest to do so.” The company is already producing launch vehicles for its second and third Spectrum flights, with plans to incorporate lessons learned from this test. Isar Aerospace aims to establish a reliable and competitive European presence in the global satellite launch market.
Keywords: feature,video,photo,rocket,isar,space,explosion,norway,science,technology
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