A test rocket aimed at building the ability to launch satellites from Europe crashed for about 40 seconds after the Norwegian Undaport takeoff on Sunday.
The non-mannered spectrum rocket, an orbital rocket developed by the German beginning Isar Aerospace, began to smoke from its sides, and then crashed on Earth with a powerful explosion after launching from the Andoya Spapy of Norway in the Arctic. The company called the test flight a success.
« Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving great success, » said Daniel Metzler, CEO and co -founder of Isar, in a statement. « We had a clean elevator, 30 seconds of flight and even valued our flight termination system. »
The company said that the two -stage rocket fell into the sea, adding that « launch seems to be intact. »
Orbital rockets are designed to place loads such as satellites in Earth’s orbit or beyond.
Brady Kenniston/Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media via AP 
The Spectrum explosion was the first of an orbital launch vehicle in the European continent, excluding Russia and the first funded in Europe almost exclusively by the private sector.
The launch had been repeatedly postponed due to the weather conditions and Isar Aerospace had reduced expectations.
« Every second we want is good because we collect data and experience. Thirty seconds would be a great success, » said Metzler, before launch.
« We do not expect to reach the orbit with this test. In fact, no company has still managed to put their first orbital launch vehicle into orbit. »
The 92 -foot two -foot rocket had no load for test flight.
Isar Aerospace is separated from the European Space Agency, or ESA, funded by its 23 Member States, reported The Associated Press.
The ESA has launched rockets and satellites in the orbit for years, but mainly of the French Guiana – a department of France abroad in South America – and the Cape Canaveral in Florida.
A first European orbital launch attempt was made by 2023 by the virgin orbit of Richard Branson’s billionaire businessman. He tried to use a Boeing 747 to launch a rocket to the orbit from the south -west of England, but failed, bringing the company to fold.
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