Space travel
German rocket started-30-second flight
After the weather-related delay, the German Spectrum rocket started in Norway. The flight lasted about half a minute and is a success from a company perspective. There are other plans.
The Spectrum rocket of the southern German start-up Isar Aerospace broke up for your first flight-it lasted about 30 seconds. Then the rocket fell into the sea. Daniel Metzler, CEO and co -founder of the company described the mission as “great success”. There are already working on two other rockets. “Isar Aerospace is preparing for the next start.”
The flight was broadcast live on the Internet on Sunday. Previously, the start had to be postponed several times due to the weather conditions.
At 12.30 p.m. the missile took off at the starting point at the Norwegian room port of Andøy. This test flight fulfilled all expectations, said Metzler. “We had a clean start, 30 seconds flight time and were even able to validate our flight demolition system.”
Collect data and experience
According to Isar Aerospace, the aim of the test flight was to gain as much data and as much experience as possible. That was successful. Due to strict safety precautions, the staff at the spatial harbor was always safe.
The fact that the rocket would reach the orbit was previously largely excluded. In the past, no company had managed to get its first rocket into the orbit, a spokeswoman emphasized in advance. “The rocket can explode, which is even likely as part of the test flight,” she said. “30 seconds would be a great success.”
“Guide step for German space travel”
Marie-Christine von Hahn, managing director of the Federal Association of the German Aerospace Industry, described the mission as a pioneering step for the German space travel. “This test of a highly complex rocket manufactured in Germany has provided an enormous number of data that enables us to further progress.”
In order to be competitive and independent, financially strong budgets would be needed for space travel, she said. “Specifically, this means 500 million euros for the national space program and 6 billion for the European space organization (ESA).” The ESA Minister Council Conference in Germany in autumn will become trend-setting. Europe must ensure its sovereignty in space. “Elon Musks Starlink is not without an alternative – and it shouldn’t be.”
The Spectrum rocket is 28 meters long and has a diameter of 2 meters, depending on which orbit it strives, the commercial load that it can promote is – in the space jargon: Payoad – at 700 to 1,000 kilos.
The start of the test missiles from Norway, according to the information, a double premiere: not only the first flight for Isar Aerospace, but also the first start of an orbital carrier rocket in continental Europe.
dpa
Source: Stern
