A failed rocket launch from the Arctic Andøya Spaceport has provided stunning footage, with aerospace engineer Dr. Chris Combs describing it as “the most picturesque launch failure video I’ve ever seen.” The launch was conducted by German company Isar Aerospace, which became the first European commercial space company to launch an orbital rocket from mainland Europe.
The launch occurred at 12:30 PM local time on Sunday and lasted for just under a minute before crashing back to Earth and exploding. Despite the failure, Isar’s CEO, Daniel Metzler, characterized it as a success, citing a “clean lift-off” and successful validation of their flight termination system.
The remote location of the Andøya Spaceport adds to the visual appeal of the footage, with the Arctic landscape providing a unique backdrop for the rocket’s demise. This is not the first instance of a failed launch resulting in striking video, as a similar incident was captured by Chinese startup Deep Blue Aerospace last year.
Private companies like SpaceX, which regularly launches orbital rockets, often provide excellent photographic opportunities. In fact, photographer Josh Dury recently captured a breathtaking image of a Starlink satellite train passing through the night sky and a giant SpaceX swirl caused by a rocket fuel dump over Europe. Isar Aerospace’s “Full Spectrum” Launch is its latest attempt to put small and medium satellites into orbit via a two-stage launch vehicle.
Source: https://petapixel.com/2025/03/31/the-footage-from-this-failed-rocket-launch-is-spellbinding-isar-aerospace