On March 30, 2025, Germany based Isar Aerospace launched its Spectrum rocket from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport. The uncrewed test ended 30 seconds after liftoff, when the rocket lost control and fell into the sea.
Isar called it a “great success,” citing 30 seconds of flight and data collected. ESA’s Josef Aschbacher praised the effort. CEO Daniel Metzler promised swift analysis, citing a control glitch as a potential cause of failure. Isar’s next Spectrum is in production, targeting a quick turnaround between test flights.
The 28-meter Spectrum rocket, designed for 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit, carried no payload for this test. The test-flight, dubbed “Going Full Spectrum.” aimed to validate systems and gather data, adopting a “test-and-fail” approach to develop a cost-competitive launcher for clients such as Norway’s Space Agency.
The European launch market is undergoing a significant transformation, with this launch being part of a shift toward greater autonomy and competitiveness in a sector long dominated by U.S. players like SpaceX.
European startups, such as Isar, Rocket Factory Augsburg, and Orbex are seeking to challenge the status quo with innovative, cost-effective solutions for small and medium satellite launches
Though still trailing behind global leaders in reusable technology and launch cadence, the European market is poised for growth, with new spaceports and ambitious projects signalling a determined effort to carve out a niche in the global space race.
(Featured image credit: Isar Aerospace/Brady Kenniston)
