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European Test Rocket Spectacularly Explodes Shortly After Launch. A test rocket intended to boost Europe's satellite launch capabilities crashed into the sea moments after lift-off though the firm responsible claims it was all part of the plan. The unmanned Spectrum rocket, developed by German start-up Isar Aerospace, launched from Norway's Andøya Spaceport on Sunday. Isar Aerospace had cautioned ahead of the test that the flight could be cut short. The company stated that the 30-second flight was sufficient to gather valuable data for future missions. The firm stated that the rocket successfully lifted off before its flight was intentionally terminated after half a minute. The vehicle then fell into the sea in a controlled manner. Safety measures ensured that no personnel were at risk during the test. “Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving great success,” said Daniel Metzler, CEO and co-founder of Isar Aerospace.” “Today, we laid the foundation to cater to the rising global demand for flexible satellite launch services. Now it's time to analyze all data, learn, iterate and be back on the launch pad as soon as possible.” Metzler added that the company would now analyse the data collected and refine the systems for future launches.