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Isar Aerospace’s maiden satellite mission failed ending in Spectrum’s fiery explosion

The Orbital Launch Pad at the Andøya Space Center in Norway was a beautiful setting for Germany’s Isar Aerospace’s first attempt to launch Spectrum. The launch took place on Saturday, March 29, at 11:30 UTC after earlier efforts this week were scrubbed due to high winds.

Isar Aerospace was established in 2018 when it created the Spectrum to serve the small to medium-sized satellite market, and is marketing the launcher as a solution for orbiting constellations.

However, in less than a minute the initial test revealed smoke from its sides and Spectrum crashed in a fiery explosion.

The rocket was uncrewed and is part of an effort to have an orbital flight that was originated from Europe as others such as Sweden and Britain want to participate in the commercial space missions.

Isar Aerospace had warned the initial launch could end prematurely, however the test provided important and helpful data that its team could learn from. The company is not discouraged and described the mission as a learning experience.

Isar Aerospace scrubs Thursday and plans a Saturday first-ever launch of Spectrum

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Once again, due to “ongoing weather restrictions”, Germany’s Isar Aerospace now has scheduled their first attempt to launch Spectrum no earlier than on Saturday, March 29, at 11:30 UTC from the Orbital Launch Pad at the Andøya Space Center in Norway. Earlier efforts this week were scrubbed due to high winds.

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Isar Aerospace was established in 2018 when it created the Spectrum to serve the small to medium-sized satellite market, and is marketing the launcher as a solution for orbiting constellations.

The forecast calls for a temperature of 36°F, overcast clouds, 100% cloud cover and a wind speed of 24mph.

Isar Aerospace targets new launch window on March 27 for first test flight

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Satellite launch service company Isar Aerospace has announced that the second launch window for the first test flight of Spectrum opens not earlier than Thursday, 27 March, from 12:30pm to 03:30pm. The launch date remains subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure. 

A first launch attempt of Mission ‘Going full Spectrum’ on Monday, 24 March, was scrubbed due to unfavorable winds.

Mission ‘Going full Spectrum’ moved to new launch window due to unfavorable winds

01:03 GMT+1 ∙ 24 Mar, 2025

The first test flight of Spectrum is scrubbed due to unfavorable winds. The vehicle and range remain healthy, and the team is working to determine a new launch window together with Andøya Spaceport. Isar Aerospace will announce the new launch window when available. Well done, team for today’s attempt.