First Orbital Rocket Launch from European Soil Delayed Due to Winds

The initial effort to send an orbital rocket into space from European land has been delayed because of strong winds. Isar Aerospace, a private space firm located in Germany, intended to launch its Spectrum rocket from Andøya Spaceport in Norway on March 24. The three-hour launch period was scheduled from 7:30 a.m. EST and 10:30 AM. EDT.

High winds at the launch location, however, resulted in the cancellation of the attempt. No problems or technical defects were reported concerning the rocket or the launch facilities. The firm has announced that a new launch schedule is being established in collaboration with the spaceport.

Reports indicate that Spectrum is a launch vehicle consisting of two stages, created solely by Isar Aerospace. Reaching a height of 28 metres, the rocket is built to transport payloads weighing as much as 1,000 kilograms into low-Earth orbit. The primary stage operates with nine turbopump liquid oxygen/propane engines, and an Aquila engine is utilized for maneuvers in orbit. The launch site at Andøya Spaceport, constructed specifically to aid Spectrum, has been in operation since 2023. The initial flight will not carry customer payloads, as the company seeks to gather flight data for upcoming missions.

Isar Aerospace has obtained a contract with the Norwegian Space Agency to launch Arctic Ocean Surveillance satellites by the year 2028. Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Director General of the Norwegian Space Agency, mentioned in an official statement that the forthcoming launches would represent an important advancement for Norwegian space programs. In spite of the ongoing delay, the company continues to concentrate on reaching essential mission milestones. A new launch timeline is anticipated to be revealed shortly.