A private European aerospace company postponed its attempt to launch the first test flight of its orbital vehicle from Norway on Monday due to unfavorable winds.
The Spectrum rocket, developed by Munich-based Isar Aerospace, was unable to launch from Andøya Island in northern Norway. The company stated that weather and safety conditions are key factors affecting the launch, and they may attempt the flight later in the week, although no new date has been set.
The 28-meter (91-foot) Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to carry small and medium-sized satellites into orbit.
Isar Aerospace has downplayed the chances of the rocket reaching orbit on its first flight, noting that they would consider a 30-second flight a success. The company’s goal is to gather as much data and experience as possible from this first integrated test of its in-house developed systems.
The startup, which claims to have raised over 400 million euros ($435 million) in funding, plans to eventually produce up to 40 launch vehicles annually at a facility near Munich. These vehicles will be used for launching satellites into orbit.
Isar Aerospace operates independently from the European Space Agency (ESA), which is funded by its 23 member states.
While ESA has been launching rockets and satellites into orbit for years, it primarily conducts these launches from French Guiana, an overseas territory of France in South America, and from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
