Isar Aerospace's First Continental Europe Launch Unsuccessful, but Not a Failure
Germany-based Isar Aerospace launched the first test of its Spectrum launch vehicle on March 30 from the Andøya Spaceport in Norway. Isar Aerospace’s first launch over the weekend was not successful, but it marked a milestone in European spaceflight as the first instance of a commercial launch taking off from continental Europe.
After liftoff, the launch was terminated approximately 30 seconds into flight, and the vehicle fell into the sea in a controlled manner. Isar Aerospace confirmed post-launch that the launch pad remained intact. The company stated it will now analyze the data and results it obtained from the first test flight to determine the root cause and iterate the systems of its Spectrum launch vehicle for future missions. Likely, the rocket's vector control system malfunctioned, leading to engine shutdown and the rocket's failure and explosion.
The company considers the launch a valuable learning experience, emphasizing its milestone as the first European commercial space company to launch an orbital-class rocket from continental Europe. However, the milestone of a successful orbital mission from continental Europe is still up for grabs.
“Our first test flight met all our expectations. We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight, and validated our Flight Termination System. We demonstrated that we can design, build, and launch rockets,” Isar Aerospace CEO Daniel Metzler said in a statement.
“I am proud of our team for working hard over the past seven years to reach this milestone. Today, we laid the foundation to address global demand for satellite launch services. Now it’s time to analyze data, learn, iterate, and return to the launch pad as soon as possible,” Metzler added.
Launch vehicles for the second and third flight of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum are already in production. Along the approach of full vertical integration, Isar Aerospace develops, produces, and tests almost all components of its Spectrum launch vehicle in-house. The company stated that in its new headquarters near Munich, Germany, it will be able to produce up to 40 Spectrum launch vehicles per year in the future.
Bulent Altan, former SpaceX executive and now chairman of Isar Aerospace, referred to the test as a “major success” for the company in a statement. “This test flight met our expectations for a first launch with a completely clean slate design, in every way. Normally, it can take a few attempts to reach orbit, yet after today’s test flight, I am confident that Isar Aerospace will do so quickly,” Altan said.
Launching satellites into space is demanding and requires commitment and innovation to achieve success. Europe's need for a strong space sector is important for global competition, so each launch attempt does signify progress for Europe’s fledgling sector.