Europe's First Private Orbital Launch Attempt Ends in Failure After 30 Seconds

Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket crashes during its inaugural flight but provides critical data for future launches.

The Spectrum rocket, developed by German start-up Isar Aerospace, launched from Norway's Andøya Space Center on March 30, 2025, marking Europe's first private orbital launch attempt.
The two-stage rocket, designed to carry up to one ton of payload, crashed 30 seconds after liftoff, oscillating and flipping before exploding.
No injuries or significant damage were reported, with the launch site remaining intact, according to local authorities.
Isar Aerospace described the test flight as a success in terms of data collection and system validation, including the flight interruption system.
The company plans to continue developing the Spectrum rocket series, with subsequent launches already in production as part of its effort to establish a competitive European space industry.