FAILURE: Isar Spectrum flight 1 - Andøya - 30 March 2025 (10:30 UTC)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/isaraerospace/status/1906307144728649990

With this test flight, we were able to successfully gather valuable data and experience for future missions. Thanks to strict safety procedures from both Isar Aerospace and Andøya Spaceport, all personnel remained safe at all times.

Photo: Isar Aerospace | Brady Kenniston, NASASpaceflight.com
Location: @AndoyaSpace

Edit to add:

https://twitter.com/isaraerospace/status/1906307219890589900

With Spectrum #2 and #3 already in production, Isar Aerospace is preparing for its next launch!

[ugordan]

Looked like a GNC positive feedback loop to me (you never want that to happen).

Actually looked kind of similar to that Proton failure over a decade ago where the accelerometers/gyros were installed the wrong way.

[Yggdrasill]

Looked like a GNC positive feedback loop to me (you never want that to happen).

Actually looked kind of similar to that Proton failure over a decade ago where the accelerometers/gyros were installed the wrong way.

I was thinking the exact same thing. The GNC people have some overtime to look forward to.

[StraumliBlight]

Looked like a GNC positive feedback loop to me (you never want that to happen).

Actually looked kind of similar to that Proton failure over a decade ago where the accelerometers/gyros were installed the wrong way.

[TheKutKu]

An unintentional launch last year went further and flew straighter than this "success"

Nevertheless, let's hope for more (actual) success to Isar, hopefully before the end of the year.  With perhaps a more open PR, to top it off.

[HVM]

Quite a bit of flying debris visible in last couple of shots

and was an explosion that rapidly turned into ice crystals.

Due expanding propane and oxygen gas? It warm 4°C spring day in Andøya with 2.7°C sea temperature.
(Why my avatar is in the stream bottom left?)

[Teoak112]

Is this variation in the engine flame normal? Something similar was seen on Alpha's first flight, when one of the engines shut down.

[catdlr]

Quite a bit of flying debris visible in last couple of shots

and was an explosion that rapidly turned into ice crystals.

Due expanding propane and oxygen gas? It warm 4°C spring day in Andøya with 2.7°C sea temperature.
(Why my avatar is in the stream bottom left?)

Yes, you're right, and I thought about you while watching the video.

[ugordan]

Is this variation in the engine flame normal?

No, and it suggests an engine failure might have occurred. Obviously a controlled shutdown and not an uncontained failure as that would have been visually much more spectacular.

Loss of electrical power/connection to the engine controller, the possibilities are endless and we can speculate all we want. I'd even go off on a limb and say that it looks like more than one engine was turned off.

The apparently obvious fact is the guidance system was not able to even keep it flying straight after that.

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/TheFavoritist/status/1906312438334513247

Absolutely an honor to have capture Spectrum’s first flight with @isaraerospace & @NASASpaceflight
. The team here has been incredible to work with and couldn’t imagine a better day for this test.

Photo: Isar Aerospace | Brady Kenniston, http://NASASpaceflight.com
Location: @AndoyaSpace

[catdlr]

Finally, a video from that drone. Heads up Yggdrasill.  (video is also attached)

https://twitter.com/KSpaceAcademy/status/1906341521097400526

[airgel]

Looked like a GNC positive feedback loop to me (you never want that to happen).

Actually looked kind of similar to that Proton failure over a decade ago where the accelerometers/gyros were installed the wrong way.

Exactly! As I was watching it, the proton mishap immediately came to mind. Explosion was surprisingly muffled. Maybe because it fell into water? Anyhow, that was my first  time seeing a rocket launch. Was still really cool

[lightleviathan]

Finally, a video from that drone. Heads up Yggdrasill.  (video is also attached)

https://twitter.com/KSpaceAcademy/status/1906341521097400526

"If it falls out of the sky, at least it's beautiful" - Peter Beck

[catdlr]

Here is my mash-up video of both the NSF launch video with the drone with the sound synced.

Credit: NSF and ISAR

[catdlr]

and now a Full launch video with additional camera angles and from the drone:

[Rik ISS-fan]

Luckily the launch pad is intact so up to launch two. I expect the do a launch failure analysis.
I thought there was a lot of venting from the sides of the rocket. And it was rolling around it's axis.
The steering of the spectrum rocket didn't work correctly, so they terminated the flight by shutting of the engines.
The rocket impected the shallow waters just north of the launchpad.
I found the snow sliding of the launch vehicle preparation building, quite funny.

[Yggdrasill]

I found the snow sliding of the launch vehicle preparation building, quite funny.

Hehe, I didn't notice that. That's one way to clear your roof of snow, I guess.

[Nonexistence]

Was flight termination accomplished with out FTS?

Is FTS only when the package is triggered or does FTS include the decision to shut engines and fall intact?

[catdlr]

Was flight termination accomplished with out FTS?

Is FTS only when the package is triggered or does FTS include the decision to shut engines and fall intact?

That is a good question,

Quote from the CEO

"CEO and Co-founder Daniel Metzler: “Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success. We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System.”

is an FTS outcome variable depending on flight conditions, altitude, and direction.  Is shutting down the engines all enough at this stage of flight, whereas further up in altitude, would the FTS cause a rupture of the tanks? 

[Nonexistence]

Additionally was a calculation made regarding its impact point?
If impact is pad trigger package if impact is water shut engines?