Norway hosts mainland Europe’s first orbital vehicle launch

A German start-up hopes to conduct Monday a test flight of its Spectrum rocket from Norway’s Andoya Spaceport, a first for Europe which is keen to maintain its access to space.

Scheduled to take place sometime between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (1130 and 1430 GMT), the launch from the Arctic space center will be the first flight of an orbital launch vehicle from the European continent, excluding Russia.

Measuring 28 meters high and two meters in diameter, with a payload capacity of one tonne, the Spectrum will not carry any cargo on this launch and is not expected to reach orbit.

“Every second we fly is good, because we collect data and experience. Thirty seconds would already be a great success,” explained Daniel Metzler, co-founder and chief executive of Isar Aerospace that built the rocket.

“We do not expect to reach orbit with this test. In fact, no company has yet managed to put its first orbital launch vehicle into orbit,” he said.

US billionaire Elon Musk’s “SpaceX needed four attempts. We want to be faster,” he added in an email to AFP.

Last year’s Draghi report, which laid out recommendations on how Europe can boost its economic growth, recognised space as a key sector.

Europe has had no access to Russian space stations and launchers since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.