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The first orbital rocket launched from the mainland of Europe left Norway on Sunday – but crashed into the sea and exploded 40 seconds later.
The unmanned spectrum rocket blew off the Arctic Andoeya SpacePort on Sunday at 12.30am before terminating less than a minute later.
Isar Aerospace, the German company that built the rocket, warned that the launch could end prematurely. This maintained that the flight, despite the short time, delivered extensive data from which his team could learn.
“Our first test flight met all our expectations and achieved a great success,” said Daniel Metzler, Isar CEO and co-founder.
Isar Aerospace Test Rocket Spectrum Light off for a test flight. Photo: Isar Aerospace via AP
“We had a clean lift, 30 seconds of flight and we even confirmed our flight ending system.”
Spectrum is a two-step launch vehicle specifically designed to place small and medium satellites in orbit.
The first trip was aimed at the beginning of satellite launches from Europe.
Several European countries, including the UK and Sweden, said they want to be an active player in the growing market of commercial spatial missions.
The flight ended after 40 seconds. Photo: Isar Aerospace via AP
Large global businesses already ahead in the Satellite launch game include Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which starts from the US, and French company Ariangroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran using a SpacePort in South America’s French Guyana.
Mr. Musk’s SpaceX also runs the Starlink Satellite Service, a communications network that can provide much of the world access to the Internet.
Isar said the flight was a success despite the fact that it crashed into the sea. Photo: Isar Aerospace via AP
Germany’s BDLI Aerospace Industries Association said ISAR’s first flight will lead to further progress.
BDLI managing director Marie -Christine von Hahn said: “Europe must urgently secure the sovereignty in space. Elon Musk’s Starlink is not without alternatives -nor should it be.”
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Sweden, with his Esrange Lansening Place, and Britain with its Saxavord SpacePort in the Scottish Shetland Islands, are the closest opponents of the Norwegian terrain, all aimed at giving Europe greater autonomy in space flights.
Saxavord, which suffered a setback when a rocket car exploded during a test last year, plans the first satellite launch later this year.
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