A test flight of the Spectrum rocket, developed by German startup Isar Aerospace, ended in failure less than a minute after its launch from the Andøya spaceport in Norway on Sunday.

The mission, which was intended to signify the first orbital flight from mainland Europe, resulted in the rocket crashing to the ground in a powerful explosion shortly after takeoff.

This incident unfolded during a live broadcast on YouTube, illustrating the challenges faced by emerging players in the commercial space industry.

The Spectrum lifted off at 12:30 PM local time and began to emit smoke from its sides approximately 30 seconds into its ascent.

Isar Aerospace stated that despite the premature termination of the flight, the data collected will be valuable for future missions.

The rocket ultimately fell into the sea in a controlled manner after the flight was called off.

Josef Aschbacher, the director general of the European Space Agency, acknowledged the significance of the launch on social media, stating that while the mission did not achieve its intended outcome, a substantial amount of flight data was obtained.

Aschbacher emphasized the inherent difficulties of rocket launches and encouraged the company to pursue future efforts.

The Spectrum is engineered to transport small- to medium-sized satellites of up to one metric tonne but did not carry a payload during its first flight.

Isar Aerospace described the mission as integral for testing all systems of the launch vehicle, marking a significant milestone since it was heralded as the inaugural commercial orbital flight from Europe's mainland, outside of Russia.

Historically, European nations have relied on Russian space infrastructure for satellite launches, a reliance complicated by geopolitical tensions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The evolving landscape has opened opportunities for US aerospace firms such as SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, as well as emerging Chinese competitors, in the lucrative satellite launch market.

The global space industry is projected to reach revenues exceeding $1 trillion within two decades, fueling interest in independent access to space among European nations.

Isar Aerospace aims for the Spectrum to be capable of launching up to 1,000 kilograms into low-Earth orbit, a domain where most satellites operate.

Founded in 2018, Isar has developed the Spectrum primarily through in-house resources.

Aschbacher had previously characterized the Spectrum launch as a historic event, highlighting the backing of the European Space Agency as pivotal for fostering independent space capabilities within Europe.

In recent developments, Europe’s space sector has faced delays with the Ariane 6 rocket and the temporary grounding of the Vega-C launcher due to an accident.

Other notable European space enterprises include Germany's HyImpulse and Rocket Factory Augsburg, France's Latitude and MaiaSpace, and Spain's PLD Space.

Future spaceport projects are being considered in locations such as the British Shetland Islands, the Azores in Portugal, and Esrange in Sweden, with coastal regions favored for launch operations to minimize risks to populated areas.

Although the UK has positioned itself as a space launch destination, it has encountered setbacks, including Virgin Orbit's bankruptcy in 2023 following a failed inaugural flight from Cornwall.

Isar Aerospace has secured a contract with Norway's space agency to launch two maritime surveillance satellites by 2028.