German rocket explodes during test at Shetland's new spaceport
A German rocket exploded during a test launch at the SaxaVord Spaceport in the northern Shetland Islands. The causes of the failure are not yet clear.
20 August 2024 17:57
On the night of Monday to Tuesday, 19 August, the engine of a German space rocket exploded. The incident occurred during a test launch at the recently opened spaceport, located on the northern Scottish archipelago of the Shetland Islands.
Initially, flames and thick plumes of smoke were observed emerging from the lower part of the rocket. Subsequently, the entire structure housing the rocket was engulfed in flames.
The German company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), responsible for the production of the rocket, stated the event. In their communication, they reported that they are in the process of gathering information about the "anomaly" that occurred during the test. They emphasised that no one was injured despite the explosion, and the launch site was preserved.
Explosion of the German rocket
Meanwhile, the authorities of the SaxaVord Spaceport, where the incident occurred, assured that all safety protocols were fully observed. Additionally, the area was evacuated before the test was conducted, ensuring that no staff were exposed to danger.
The explosion occurred during one of the RFA's many engine test launches. These tests are part of preparations for the planned launch of a rocket into orbit. The first of these took place three months ago and was successful.
In December 2023, SaxaVord Spaceport, located on the small island of Unst in the Shetland Islands, received permission from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to begin orbital launches this year. It is the first fully licensed spaceport in Western Europe, enabling vertical rocket launches into orbit. According to the licence terms, up to thirty launches per year can be conducted at this spaceport.
In January of last year, a rocket named LauncherOne was launched into space from another British spaceport, Spaceport Cornwall in Cornwall. It was the first time a space rocket was launched from the territory of Western Europe. However, it is worth noting that this was a horizontal launch, meaning the rocket was taken into orbit using a specially adapted aircraft.
