A great success’: Start-up’s rocket crashes into sea after lift-off in Norway

On March 30, 2025, German startup Isar Aerospace conducted the first-ever orbital rocket launch from continental Europe, aiming to place their Spectrum rocket into orbit from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport. The uncrewed 28-meter rocket lifted off successfully but tragically crashed into the sea and exploded approximately 30 to 40 seconds later. 

Despite the crash, Isar Aerospace’s CEO, Daniel Metzler, described the test flight as a success, stating that it met all expectations. The company gathered valuable data, including validation of their Flight Termination System, which will inform future missions. The Spectrum rocket is designed to carry small to medium-sized satellites, with a payload capacity of up to one metric tonne to low Earth orbit.

 

This launch represents a significant milestone in Europe’s pursuit of independent space launch capabilities, complementing efforts by the European Space Agency and other European nations.

 

For a visual account of the launch, you can watch the following video:

 

Rocket Crashes Into Sea Moments After Launch In Norway