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WG3K > ANS 06.04.25 05:23l 21 Lines 3424 Bytes #175 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS096.2
Subj: Spectrum's Fiery Debut Marks Bold First Step for Isar Aerosp
Path: IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<N6RME<CX2SA<ZL2BAU<WG3K
Sent: 250406/0320Z 15950@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
The inaugural flight of Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket ended just 40 seconds after liftoff on Sunday, March 30th, with the vehicle crashing into the sea off Norway's Andøya Spaceport. The rocket, intended to be the first orbital-class launcher developed by a private European company, lost control shortly after takeoff and triggered its flight termination system before plummeting into the Arctic waters in a fiery explosion.
Isar Aerospace officials acknowledged the failure but emphasized the value of the flight. "Today, we know twice as much about our launch system as yesterday before launch," said Daniel Metzler, Isar's co-founder and CEO. The company released multiple replays of the short flight, including a drone-captured video, underscoring a level of transparency uncommon in the space launch industry. Metzler praised the team's achievement, framing the test as a crucial step forward in a long-term development process.
The Spectrum rocket lifted off at 1030 UTC, generating over 150,000 pounds of thrust from its nine engines fueled by liquid propane and liquid oxygen. Trouble emerged about 15 seconds into the flight as the rocket began to oscillate and tumble, eventually flipping upside-down. With the rocket's propellant tanks still nearly full, its impact created a massive fireball visible from the snowy Andøya landscape. No injuries were reported, and the launch pad remained intact.
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Isar-Aerospace-Sp...]https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Isar-Aerospace-Spectrum-Initial-Launch-Attempt.png
Isar Aerospace's first Spectrum rocket climbs away from Andøya Spaceport in Norway. [Credit: Isar Aerospacehttps://isaraerospace.com//NASASpaceflight.comhttps://www.nasaspaceflight.com/]
The mission carried no commercial payload, a deliberate decision given the anticipated risk. The goal was to gather performance data during Spectrum's first powered flight. Officials at Isar Aerospace had long signaled that reaching orbit on the first attempt was unlikely. By preserving the launch site and capturing valuable telemetry, the company achieved what it described as a successful test despite the dramatic conclusion.
Founded in 2018, Isar Aerospace has raised over 400 million euros in private and institutional funding, making it the most well-capitalized among Europe's emerging private launch companies. Supporters include the European Space Agency, Germany's government, and the NATO Innovation Fund. ESA director general Josef Aschbacher praised the flight as a vital learning opportunity, while German vice chancellor Robert Habeck hailed the launch as evidence of Europe's growing technological independence.
Isar is already building its next two rockets and plans to iterate quickly, following a strategy modeled after SpaceX's fast-paced test-and-repair cycle. While the loss of the first Spectrum rocket marks a setback, company officials maintain that success lies not in perfection but in progress. "We're super happy," Metzler said. "Now it's time to analyze all data, learn, iterate, and be back on the launch pad as soon as possible."
"We're super happy," Metzler said in a press call after Sunday's flight. "It's a time for people to be proud of, and for Europe, frankly, also to be proud of."
[ANS thanks the Stephen Clark, Ars Technicahttps://arstechnica.com/, for the above information]
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