Latest news with #Marie-ChristinevonHahn
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Test flight of orbital rocket from Europe explodes
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Germany's Isar Aerospace conducted the first test flight of its Spectrum orbital rocket from a spaceport in Norway Sunday, deeming the launch a success even though the rocket crashed into the sea and exploded about 30 seconds after liftoff. Isar is one of a handful of European aerospace startups aiming to create a commercial space industry that can send satellites into orbit from inside continental Europe. Isar said the "terminated" test flight allowed it to "gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions." The European Space Agency has been "launching rockets and satellites into orbit for years, but mainly from French Guiana" and Cape Canaveral in Florida, The Associated Press said. The French-German satellite launch firm ArianeGroup also uses the French Guiana spaceport and Elon Musk's SpaceX launches from the U.S. The Andøya Spaceport, on an island in northern Norway, was built for Isar in 2023. Sweden's Estrange Space Center and Britain's SaxaVord Spaceport are the "nearest rivals to the Norwegian site," Reuters said, and both aim to launch commercial orbital vehicles later this year. "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space," said Marie-Christine von Hahn of German aerospace industries group BDLI. "Elon Musk's Starlink is not without alternatives — nor should it be."
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rocket Falls in Icy Wasteland, Explodes in Epic Fireball
A rocket by German startup Isar Aerospace tore into the sky over Norway's Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, a European launch base for small satellites, over the weekend — only to plummet back down to the ground, exploding in a dramatic fireball. Fortunately, while the spaceport's "crisis management" was triggered, nobody was hurt. As Reuters reports, the rocket, dubbed Spectrum, was meant to kick off Europe's efforts to keep up with steep international competition when it comes to launching satellites into orbit. The company says it's the first rocket designed for orbital flight that has ever been launched from continental Europe, excluding Russia. Elon Musk's SpaceX, in particular, has made major headwinds in establishing a massive constellation of Starlink satellites. "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space," said Marie-Christine von Hahn, managing director of Germany's BDLI aerospace industries association, in a statement, as quoted by Reuters. "Elon Musk's Starlink is not without alternatives — nor should it be." While the launch may have resulted in an epic fireball — in glorious footage of a rocket exploding in front of gorgeous, snow-covered mountains — Isar Aerospace claims it was an important step in the right direction. "With this test flight, we were able to successfully gather valuable data and experience for future missions," the company tweeted. "Thanks to strict safety procedures from both Isar Aerospace and Andøya Spaceport, all personnel remained safe at all times." "Isar Aerospace met its set goals: After ignition of its first stage, Spectrum successfully lifted off," the company wrote in a statement, "for its first test flight lasting approximately 30 seconds. This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions." It's a particularly noteworthy development, given Europe's broader goals of reducing its dependence on the United States, particularly when it comes to security. "We will be able to serve customers from around the world to bring their satellites into space and to help Europe solve a major blind spot in its security architecture: access to space," said Isar Aerospace CEO and cofounder Daniel Metzler in a statement. "Launch, learn, repeat," the company wrote, echoing SpaceX's iterative design methodology. More on Starlink: It Looks an Awful Lot Like Elon Musk Is Awarding a Huge Government Contract to Himself
Reuters
31-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
German startup's space rocket explodes seconds after takeoff from Norway
OSLO, March 30 (Reuters) - A test rocket aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after takeoff from a Norwegian space port on Sunday, in what German startup Isar Aerospace had described as an initial test. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed 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. Isar Aerospace, which had warned that the initial launch could end prematurely, said the test produced extensive data that its team can learn from. Blasting off from Norway's Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, the Spectrum is designed for small and medium-sized satellites weighing up to one metric tonne, although it did not carry a payload on its maiden voyage. Global players in the satellite launch market include Elon Musk's SpaceX, which launches from the United States, and French ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus ( opens new tab and Safran ( opens new tab that uses a spaceport in South America's French Guiana. SpaceX also operates the Starlink satellite service, a communications network spanning much of the globe. Germany's BDLI aerospace industries association said Isar's first flight would lead to further progress. "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space. Elon Musk's Starlink is not without alternatives - nor should it be," BDLI Managing Director Marie-Christine von Hahn said in a statement. Sunday's mission was intended to collect data on the company's in-house developed launch vehicle, in a first integrated test of all its systems, Bavaria's Isar Aerospace said last week. Sweden, with its Esrange launch site and Britain with its SaxaVord Spaceport in the Scottish Shetland Islands, are the nearest rivals to the Norwegian site, all of which aim to give Europe greater autonomy in space flights. SaxaVord, which suffered a setback when a rocket engine exploded during a test last year, plans its first satellite launch in the third quarter of 2025, and Esrange also aims to stage its inaugural launch this year.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
German startup's space rocket explodes seconds after takeoff from Norway
German startup's space rocket explodes seconds after takeoff from Norway Show Caption Hide Caption German rocket explodes after takeoff in Norway The uncrewed Spectrum rocket launched from the Andøya Spaceport in Norway when it exploded. OSLO, Norway — A test rocket aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after takeoff from a Norwegian space port on Sunday, in what German startup Isar Aerospace had described as an initial test. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed 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. Isar Aerospace, which had warned that the initial launch could end prematurely, said the test produced extensive data that its team can learn from. Blasting off from Norway's Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, the Spectrum is designed for small and medium-sized satellites weighing up to one metric ton, though it did not carry a payload on its maiden voyage. Global players in the satellite launch market include Elon Musk's SpaceX, which launches from the United States, and French ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran that uses a spaceport in South America's French Guiana. SpaceX also operates the Starlink satellite service, a communications network spanning much of the globe. Germany's BDLI aerospace industries association said Isar's first flight would lead to further progress. "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space. Elon Musk's Starlink is not without alternatives - nor should it be," BDLI Managing Director Marie-Christine von Hahn said in a statement. Sunday's mission was intended to collect data on the company's in-house developed launch vehicle, in a first integrated test of all its systems, Bavaria's Isar Aerospace said last week. Sweden, with its Esrange launch site and Britain with its SaxaVord Spaceport in the Scottish Shetland Islands, are the nearest rivals to the Norwegian site, all of which aim to give Europe greater autonomy in space flights. SaxaVord, which suffered a setback when a rocket engine exploded during a test last year, plans its first satellite launch in the third quarter of 2025, and Esrange also aims to stage its inaugural launch this year. (This article was updated to include video.)
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German startup's space rocket explodes seconds after takeoff from Norway
OSLO (Reuters) -A test rocket aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after takeoff from a Norwegian space port on Sunday, in what German startup Isar Aerospace had described as an initial test. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed 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. Isar Aerospace, which had warned that the initial launch could end prematurely, said the test produced extensive data that its team can learn from. Blasting off from Norway's Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, the Spectrum is designed for small and medium-sized satellites weighing up to one metric tonne, although it did not carry a payload on its maiden voyage. Global players in the satellite launch market include Elon Musk's SpaceX, which launches from the United States, and French ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran that uses a spaceport in South America's French Guiana. SpaceX also operates the Starlink satellite service, a communications network spanning much of the globe. Germany's BDLI aerospace industries association said Isar's first flight would lead to further progress. "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space. Elon Musk's Starlink is not without alternatives - nor should it be," BDLI Managing Director Marie-Christine von Hahn said in a statement. Sunday's mission was intended to collect data on the company's in-house developed launch vehicle, in a first integrated test of all its systems, Bavaria's Isar Aerospace said last week. Sweden, with its Esrange launch site and Britain with its SaxaVord Spaceport in the Scottish Shetland Islands, are the nearest rivals to the Norwegian site, all of which aim to give Europe greater autonomy in space flights. SaxaVord, which suffered a setback when a rocket engine exploded during a test last year, plans its first satellite launch in the third quarter of 2025, and Esrange also aims to stage its inaugural launch this year.
