Posted on 03/31/2025 3:51:41 AM PDT by Ahithophel
THE first-ever orbital rocket launched from Europe has crashed into the ground and exploded moments after its take off.
German startup Isar Aerospace’s uncrewed Spectrum rocket fell into the sea and burst into flames just 40 seconds after blasting off from Norway’s Arctic Andøya Spaceport on Sunday.
The dramatic fireball marked a fiery end to what had been billed as the continent’s first-ever orbital launch attempt — seen as a major step in Europe's bid to break into the booming commercial satellite market.
The 28-metre Spectrum rocket lifted off at 12.30pm local time (10.30 am UK) after weather delays earlier in the week.
But the flight was abruptly “terminated” just half a minute in.
Despite the explosive ending, Isar Aerospace insists the mission was a win.
(Excerpt) Read more at thesun.co.uk ...
Phrasing!
The farther north of the equator that space launches are attempted, the less the launch is aided by the spin of the earth about its axis, and the more sheer weight, and percentage of total takeoff weight, must be carried in the form of rocket fuel or engine bulk.
Who’s idea was it to take off from Norway?
LOL diction!
Oopsy
Yep, there is a reason Cape Canaveral is where it is.
Happens to everyone. NASA rockets crash, Musk, Bezos, Russian, Chinese rockets crash.
The Europeans will eventually get it right.
Then it wasn’t ‘orbital’ was it?...................
Who will get hookers and blow to Mars?!
Acting “American” ain’t that easy.
Pretty sure I heard Von Braun laughing.
“crashed into the ground and exploded”
“ fell into the sea and burst into flames”
O.k., which is it? Were there two rockets?
“Who’s idea was it to take off from Norway?”
There’s physics and then there’s politics. The Houston Space Center was built in Houston, but all the space stuff was in Florida and California. LBJ. Politics. In 1950 Schlumberger built a huge facility in Sarasota Florida because a top official wanted to retire there and have his move paid for by the company. The next forty years the company was handicapper by one self-centered ridiculous decision.
At a guess, Norway, with the largest sovereign wealth fund on the planet, paid for the facility. You think they’d put in Portugal because of physics?!
Real Estate developer?
Peenemunde is closed.
I wonder which scientist/tech installed the suicide vest...
It took them this long?
Such awful earth killing emissions, theu should be ashamed 😎
“Who’s idea was it to take off from Norway?”
Norway is good for polar satellites. Also, launching to the east from Europe might get someone’s dander up.
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