Video: German Startup's Space Rocket Explodes 40 Seconds After Liftoff

A test rocket aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after takeoff from a Norwegian space port on Sunday, in what German startup Isar Aerospace had described as an initial test.

The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed as the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe, where several nations, including Sweden and Britain, have said they want a share of a growing market for commercial space missions.

Video of Isar Aerospace Spectrum hitting the ground.

Video from @vgnett pic.twitter.com/lnCe90a17l — VSB - Space Coast West (@spacecoastwest) March 30, 2025

Isar Aerospace, which had warned that the initial launch could end prematurely, said the test produced extensive data that its team can learn from.

Blasting off from Norway's Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, the Spectrum is designed for small and medium-sized satellites weighing up to one metric tonne, although it did not carry a payload on its maiden voyage.

LAUNCH! Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket launches from the Orbital Launch Pad at the Andøya Space Center in Norway.

Overview:https://t.co/64HcC1kqIH

Live Isar/NSF:https://t.co/aGH02uqNum

And failed early in first stage flight. That's why it's a test flight. pic.twitter.com/SfolnqhtBu — NSF - NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) March 30, 2025

The mission was intended to collect data on the company's in-house developed launch vehicle, in a first integrated test of all its systems, Bavarian Isar Aerospace said last week.

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