« Spectrum » falls when the sea is first flight
On Sunday afternoon, after a long wait, the Spectrum of the Bavarian New Space startups Isar Aerospace was able to start several times at the space station in Andoya in Norwegian. At 12.30 p.m., the winning rocket – as could be seen in the live stream – picked up, flew around 30 seconds according to the company and then fell into the sea. As Isar Aerospace continued, the flight had been stopped after half a minute.
Isaer-aerospace managing director and co-founder Daniel Metzler still sees the test as successful. He is cited as follows in a message: « Our first test flight fulfilled all of our expectations and was a great success. We had a clean start, 30 seconds flight time and were even able to validate our flight termination system. » With the test flight, the company continues, it was successfully « gained valuable data and experiences for future missions ». With the « Spectrum #2″ and » #3″, which are already in production, Isar Aerospace is preparing for the next countdowns.
The first start had been postponed several times over the past week due to difficult weather conditions. The « Spectrum » did not have payload on board on its short first flight. The goal was given in advance to « collect as much data and experiences as possible. » Isar Aerospace takes a next step with the first flight. In September 2020, production started the long way to start in a commercial area in front of Munich. In the presence of Prime Minister Markus Söder it was said: from Ottobrunn to the orbit.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck congratulates
In the afternoon, Federal Minister of Economics congratulated Robert Habeck (Greens). He said: « Today is an important day for German and European space. With the first start, Germany has impressively demonstrated that it is an important location for the development of innovative space technologies. » He is looking forward to the next steps of the company and continued: « The unhindered access to space is strategically crucial – only those who get into space can also be used. Satellites enable navigation, communication and strawening, they help with climate protection, with coping with crisis and strengthen our economic and technological sovereignty. » Isar Aerospace offers a sustainable sponsoring alternative from Germany and is a strong applicant in the European Launcher Challenge of the ESA. Habeck: « This day marks a milestone for our competitiveness in space travel and is proof of entrepreneurial courage made in Germany ». Isar Aerospace can and will make a « decisive contribution to securing Europe’s independent access to space ».
Among other things, Isar Aerospace competes with the Augsburg Rocket Factory. The Augsburgers had already tried their first test flight last August. The RFA One started from the Saxavord Spaceport on the island of Unst in the far north of the Shetland Islands, but went up in flames. « In the course of the test, » said an RFA spokesman, it was « to an oxygen fire came in the turbopump of a helix engine. » This was no longer possible with the existing extinguishing systems. It should be this year.
Preliminary record of the race of the two companies: It will probably take some time until the first Bavarian Microlauncher arrives in orbit.
