Europe launches first commercial rocket to boost space tech
The first commercial rocket built in Europe has launched from the Andoya Space Center in Norway. The Spectrum mission marks a significant advancement in the development of European space technologies.
On Sunday at 12:30 PM, the Spectrum rocket was launched from the Andoya Space Center in northern Norway. This event is the first instance of a commercial rocket built in Europe being launched from this spaceport. After 20 seconds of flight, the engines stopped working, and the rocket body fell to the ground as planned.
The mission's goal was to gather data on the rocket's design and operation. Tina Schmitt from Isar Aerospace, the rocket's owner, emphasized that this project was the result of seven years of work. Spectrum is a two-stage design intended to launch research and commercial satellites into orbit. The rocket stands 92 feet tall and has a diameter of 7 feet, and its engines were largely created using 3D printing technology.
Norway sees Europe’s first commercial rocket launch, and it's just the beginning
The Andoya Space Center, located north of the Lofoten archipelago, has previously only hosted suborbital rockets. The "Going Full Spectrum" mission is the first commercial rocket launch aiming to reach Earth's orbit. Łukasz Wilczyński from the European Space Foundation noted that Europe needs to develop its capabilities in space technologies, and Andoya can facilitate access to orbit for smaller projects.
Isar Aerospace, a German company founded in 2018 in Munich, is the builder of the Spectrum rocket. It employs 400 people and plans to launch various satellites into orbit, from communications to research. The launch of the Spectrum rocket is an important step in the development of European space technologies, which could help boost Europe's competitiveness in the space market.
