@isaraerospace has become the first European commercial space company to launch an orbital rocket from Continental Europe. In the first test flight of the company’s Spectrum LV from Andøya Spaceport in Norway, Isar Aerospace met its set goals.
— Isar Aerospace (@isaraerospace) March 30, 2025
A private European aerospace startup, Isar Aerospace, announced that it has successfully completed the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle. The Spectrum rocket, a two-stage launch vehicle designed to put small and medium satellites into orbit, launched from the island of Andøya in northern Norway. The 28-meter (92-foot) long Spectrum rocket lifted off at 12:30 p.m. (1030 GMT) on Sunday and flew for about 30 seconds before the flight was terminated, Isar Aerospace reported.
The rocket subsequently fell into the sea.
Countdown begins for the first test flight of Spectrum. Subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure, the launch window opens 12:30pm – 03:30pm CEST.
Public livestream via: https://t.co/4Cke8xRQDc#goingfullspectrum
Photo: Isar Aerospace | Robin Brillert, Wingmen Media pic.twitter.com/i3kY8DAaVY
— Isar Aerospace (@isaraerospace) March 30, 2025
Despite the short flight duration, the company’s chief executive and co-founder, Daniel Metzler, described the flight as a great success.
Isar Aerospace’s milestone test flight
Continental Europe's first attempt at an orbital space launch ended shorter than expected after Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket returned to Earth with a bang 30 seconds after lifting off only to crash and explode in the Norwegian Sea next to the pad.https://t.co/iXRDFf17gR… pic.twitter.com/a8DQR8VNdK
— New Atlas (@nwtls) March 31, 2025
“We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight, and even got to validate our Flight Termination System,” Metzler said in a news release. The launch faced numerous challenges, including weather conditions. The originally planned launch had been postponed multiple times due to unfavorable winds and weather restrictions, including a scrubbed attempt the previous Monday and Saturday.
LAUNCH and FAILURE of the first ISAR Aerospace Spectrum from Andoya at 1030 UT Mar 30, with loss of control at T+30s
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) March 30, 2025
Isar Aerospace had set realistic expectations for the test flight, emphasizing that the primary goal was to collect as much data and experience as possible from the first integrated test of all the systems on its in-house-developed launch vehicle. The successful 30-second flight allowed the company to achieve that objective. The startup’s successful test flight marks a significant milestone in its development and offers promising prospects for future orbital launches.
Photo by; NASA on Unsplash
