Failed the first spectrum launch, the rocket of the German startup Isar Aerospace
It was 2018 when three students of the Technical University of Munich they went to the head to create a private reality competitive in space race. Just like Spacex did. And, over the years, that idea has been carried out until it materializes in a company, the Isar Aerospaceand in a rocket, it Spectrum. The first launch test, however, has shown all difficulties that a startup must face in this complex technological sector. From andøya spaceportin Norway, the Spectrum He left and after a few seconds he went backcrashing to the ground.
The moment was quite important for the entire continent. In Norway the first flight attempt by a commercial orbital launch vehicle in Europe took place. Usually for the rockets of the European Space Agency the Space Center is used in the French Guyana, in South America. The Spectrum was designed to be able to bring satellites of small and medium -sized satellites and, for the tests, Isa Aerspace has chosen to play at home. On March 14 he obtained his license from the Norwegian civil aviation authority. After two suspended attempts, due to the weather conditions, On March 30, around 12.30 the rocket started. To then crash immediately after. It is not a real surprise. The first flight attempts of a new carrier never represent a safe success. «With this mission, Isar Aerospace means collect the greatest number of possible data and experiences on his launch vehicle developed internally. This is the first integrated test of all systems, « said the vice -president of the mission and launch Alexandre Dalloneau operations.
The hot comment of the company, just after the noise of the crash, goes precisely in this direction: «Let’s remember because we are here today and what our goal was. This is the first carrier entirely conceived and built by us, in less than 7 years. Today it was the first integrated test of all systems, hundreds of components were working together for the first time. From a test there are thousands of data that we can now evaluate and from which we can learn ».
In 2018 the three founders had already started dealing with space technology. Daniel Metzler He worked on the engines by guiding a team of 40 students. Josef Fleischmann He had won, together with a group of colleagues, the first Spacex race to build the Hyperloop. To them is also added Markus Brandl To create the startup whose name is inspired by the river of Monaco, the Isar. As it was remembered At the end of the live streamingSpectrum is the 7 -year -old product. And it was built – reports Ars Technica – thanks to Investments of the European Space Agency, the German government and NATO. The Isar Aerospace said he collected More than 400 million euros.
