The launch of the Spectrum unmanned rocket from the Andøya Space Centre, Norway Photo: AP
The Spectrum unmanned rocket, developed by German startup Isar Aerospace, exploded shortly after launch in Norway. The aircraft, which was supposed to be a breakthrough for the European space industry, took off on Sunday, 30 March, from the Andøya Space Centre, but crashed and exploded less than a minute later, The Guardian reports.
The launch was to be an important test for future European commercial missions. Isar Aerospace warned that the first launch might not go according to plan, but stressed that it had received valuable technical data that would help in further development.
The Spectrum rocket was seen as a first step towards launching satellites directly from Europe. Its development is part of a wider race to create an independent European space programme, with countries such as Sweden and the UK seeking to consolidate their position in space launches.
