Rocket Carrying European Orbital Vehicle Crashes Seconds After Launch
Europe's first orbital launch from the continent crashed seconds after liftoff, dealing a blow to its ambitions for a new space economy while providing valuable flight data.
Published on April 1, 2025
On March 31, 2025, Europe's first orbital rocket launched from the continent experienced a failure just seconds after liftoff. The vehicle, developed by the private firm Isar Aerospace, quickly crashed, marking a significant setback in the region's ambition to build a new space economy.
Additional details from the test flights indicate that despite the dramatic failure—including a brief flight that saw the rocket crash into the sea and form a fireball—the mission provided substantial data. Company officials noted that early flight objectives such as liftoff and the validation of critical systems were met, underscoring the importance of the test for future orbital endeavors.