Exploded – after 25seconds:“Success”

Norway

Norway writes space history – rocket exploded 

Jacob Ruderstam

Updated 14.38 | Published 12.00

Photo: Isar Aerospace / Handout/ NTB / TT News Agency

25 seconds.

That's how long the historic Spectrum rocket was in the air before it crashed in Norway.

– This was a great success, says Professor Kjellmar Oksavik.

Today, Norway attempted to launch the first satellite-carrying rocket from European soil.

At 12.30, the 28-meter-long Spectrum rocket, built by the private space company Isar Aerospace, was launched from the island of Andöya in northern Norway.

The company had already said in advance that the chance of the rocket making it all the way into space was low. Shortly after the rocket left the ground, it fell back down and exploded.

Photo: AP

The launch was intended to gather data and experience.

– In my opinion, this was a great success, because nothing exploded at the launch pad, says Professor Kjellmar Oksavik at the University of Bergen to TV2.

ESA, the European Space Agency, has been launching rockets for several years. But no satellite has been launched from Europe.

Norway

First rocket test in Europe ends in crash

TT

Published 13.23

 

The Spectrum rocket lifted off from Andøya in northern Norway. Here it was prepared for launch a little over a week ago. Photo: Simon Fisher/Wingman Media/Isar Aerospace/Handout

An attempt to launch a satellite launcher from Europe for the first time was over after 25 seconds.

The Spectrum rocket took off from the ground in Andøya, Norway, and was in the air for 25 seconds before it crashed and exploded.

Rescue services have been called to the scene of the crash, but it is unclear what the extent of the damage is at the impact site. According to the police, there are no early reports of any injuries to people or buildings.

The 28-meter-high Spectrum rocket was launched by the German-based space company Isar Aerospace. It is built to carry satellites and place them in orbit around the Earth.

The company's management had previously said that just getting the rocket into the air would be a success. Now it has reached several hundred meters before turning around.

- The test has resulted in a ton of data that the team can now evaluate and learn from, says a commentator from Isar Aerospace in its own live broadcast.

The launch is the first of such a rocket from Europe, as similar plans have previously been carried out from the European Space Agency's ESA space base in French Guiana in South America.

The rocket was planned to be launched as early as Monday, but it has been postponed several times due to bad weather conditions.

Andøya is an island off the coast of northern Norway, approximately at the height of the Treriksröset.