Germany's Spectrum rocket lifts off for the first time but ends in explosion | WPN World People News

The German startup Isar Aerospace launched a test rocket on March 30 (local time), marking the first rocket launch from Andøya Spaceport in Norway, located within the Arctic Circle. However, the rocket exploded approximately 40 seconds after liftoff. Isar Aerospace stated that the test provided valuable data that would help improve future launch plans.

This mission, named **"Going Full Spectrum,"** represents the first orbital launch from mainland Europe (excluding Russia and the British Isles). The **"Spectrum"** rocket, standing 28 meters tall, is designed to carry small and medium-sized satellites and is intended for launching satellites into low Earth orbit in the future. No payload was carried on this test flight.

Isar Aerospace co-founder and CEO Daniel Metzler had previously stated that as long as data and experience could be gathered, every second of flight was valuable. He also emphasized that this launch symbolized a significant step in Europe’s pursuit of space autonomy. Isar Aerospace operates independently from the European Space Agency (ESA) and is purely a private startup, often drawing comparisons to Elon Musk's SpaceX.

It is generally more energy-efficient to launch rockets from low-latitude regions near the equator. In contrast, launching from high-latitude areas in Europe requires more power, better technology, and higher costs. Metzler explained that the launch was conducted under strict safety standards to ensure personnel safety. The valuable launch data collected will contribute to improving the company’s future technology, striving toward the goal of European satellite launch independence.