A rocket privately built by Norwegian aerospace firm Isar Aerospace exploded into the sea just 30 seconds after taking off on Sunday.
Regardless of the short flight, Isar Aerospace characterized the mission as a success, with the test delivering useful flight data. The two-stage Spectrum rocket, intended to launch small and medium satellites into space, took off from Andøya in northern Norway at 12:30 p.m. local time (1030 GMT). But the flight was cut short shortly after lift-off, and the rocket plunged into the sea in a controlled splashdown.
This test flight enabled us to gather a substantial amount of flight data and operational experience for future missions,” the company said in a statement.
The 28-meter (92-foot) Spectrum rocket is Isar Aerospace’s attempt to join the competitive private space launch market, providing affordable options for satellite deployment. The company will reportedly examine the test results to hone upcoming launches.
