A private private aerospace startup completes the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle

Oslo, Norway (AP) – A rocket from a private European aerospace company was launched from Norway on Sunday and crashed in the sea 30 seconds later.

Despite the short test flight, Isar Aerospace said he had managed to finish the first test flight of his Orbital launch vehicle launching His spectrum rocket of the island of Andoire North North.

The 28 -meter -long spectrum (92 feet long) is a two -step launch vehicle specially designed to orbit small and medium satellite. The rocket took neckline from the PAD at 12:30 p.m. (1030 GMT) on Sunday and stole for about half a minute before the flight, said Isar.

“This allowed the company to collect a substantial amount of data and flight experience to apply on future missions,” said Isar in a statement. “After the end of the flight at T + 30 seconds, the launch vehicle fell into the sea in a controlled manner.”

The launch video shows the rocket that takes off from the cushion, flying in the air, then descending to crash into the sea in an ardent explosion.

The launch has been the subject of various factors, including weather and safety, and Sunday takeoff followed a week of poor conditions, including a Launch launch on March 24 Due to unfavorable winds and Saturday for weather restrictions.

“Our first test flight met all of our expectations, achieving great success,” said Daniel Metzler, Managing Director of Isar and Co-founder, in the press release. “We had a clean take -off, 30 seconds of flight and we were even able to validate our flight termination system.”

The company had largely excluded the possibility that the rocket reaches orbit during its first full flight, claiming that it would consider a 30 second flight as a success. Isar Aerospace aims to collect as much data and experience as possible on the first integrated test of all systems on its launch vehicle developed internally.

Isar Aerospace is distinct from the European Space Agency, or ESA, which is funded by its 23 Member States.

“Success to leave the cushion and a lot of data already obtained. I’m sure @isaryerospace Will learn a lot, “published the director general of ESA, Josef Aschbacher on X.” The launch of the rocket is difficult. Never give up, go ahead with even more energy! »»

ESA has launched rockets and satellites in orbit for years, but mainly from French Guiana – an overseas department of France in South America – and Canaveral Cape in Florida.