Europe's First Orbital Rocket Launch Achieves Milestone Despite Crash

German startup Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket failed to reach orbit but successfully validated key systems and gathered critical data for future missions.

The Spectrum rocket, developed by Isar Aerospace, marked the first orbital launch attempt from continental Europe, excluding Russia, on March 30, 2025.
The rocket lifted off from Andøya Spaceport in Norway but crashed into the Norwegian Sea 30 seconds after launch due to a controlled flight termination.
Despite the crash, the test flight was declared a success for achieving objectives such as validating the Flight Termination System and gathering valuable flight data.
The Spectrum rocket is a two-stage vehicle designed to carry small and medium satellites, with a payload capacity of up to 1,000 kilograms.
This milestone highlights Europe's growing efforts to establish independent space capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign providers like SpaceX.