Watch: German test rocket explodes after launch from Norwegian space port

A test rocket from Isar Aerospace exploded 40 seconds after launch from a Norwegian space port. The Spectrum rocket was Europe’s first attempt at an orbital flight, aimed at launching satellites. Isar Aerospace gathered extensive data from the failed flight, viewing it as a learning success.

A test rocket aimed at kick-starting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after its launch from a Norwegian space port. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was described as the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe, where several nations – including Sweden and Britain – have said they want a share of a growing market for commercial space missions. Drone and pad footage from Isar Aerospace's Spectrum launch.



You can see it avoided the pad when it came down. pic.twitter.

com/NePozHqYad It was the largest German rocket since V-2, the Nazi-era rocket that has often been described as having launched the space age and was the world’s first long-range guided ballistic missile..