German rocket explodes during test launch at Scottish spaceport

On the night of Monday to Tuesday, August 20, the engine of a German space rocket exploded. The incident occurred during a test launch at the newly opened spaceport on the northern Scottish archipelago of the Shetland Islands.

Initially, flames and thick plumes of smoke emerged from the lower part of the rocket. Soon after, the entire structure housing the rocket was engulfed in flames.

The German company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), responsible for producing the rocket, started the event. They reported that they were gathering information about the "anomaly" that occurred during the test. They emphasized that no one was injured despite the explosion, and the launch site was preserved.

Meanwhile, SaxaVord Spaceport authorities assured that all safety protocols were fully observed. They also confirmed that the area was evacuated before the test, ensuring no staff were exposed to danger.

The explosion occurred during one of many engine tests by RFA. These tests are part of preparations for a planned rocket launch into orbit. The first of these tests took place three months ago and was successful.

In December 2023, SaxaVord Spaceport on the small island of Unst in the Shetland Islands received permission from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to begin orbital launches this year. It is the first fully licensed spaceport in Western Europe, enabling vertical rocket launches into orbit. According to the terms of the license, up to 30 launches per year can be conducted at this spaceport.

In January of last year, a rocket named LauncherOne was launched into space from another British spaceport, Cornwall Spaceport in Cornwall. It was the first time a space rocket was launched from Western Europe. However, it's worth noting that this was a horizontal launch, meaning the rocket was taken into orbit using a specially adapted aircraft.