German Startup's Rocket Fails 40 Seconds After Launch<br /><br />Isar Aerospace, which had cautioned that the inaugural launch might not go as planned, stated that the test yielded valuable data for future improvements.<br /><br />A test rocket intended to pave the way for satellite launches from Europe crashed back to the ground and exploded just 40 seconds after liftoff from a Norwegian spaceport on Sunday. The German startup Isar Aerospace had positioned the launch as an initial trial.<br /><br />The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was touted as Europe's first attempt at an orbital flight, as multiple European nations—including Sweden and the UK—seek to enter the expanding commercial space market.<br /><br />Isar Aerospace had previously indicated that the launch might face early termination but emphasized that the test provided crucial insights.<br /><br />Launching from Norway’s Arctic Andøya Spaceport, the Spectrum rocket is designed to carry small to medium satellites of up to one metric ton. However, it did not include a payload for this maiden test.<br /><br />The mission aimed to gather data on the company's proprietary launch vehicle and served as the first comprehensive test of all its systems, according to the Bavarian-based Isar Aerospace.
