A rocket being test-launched at a new British spaceport in the Shetland Islands has exploded on the ground.
The test, executed by German spacecraft firm Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), had been slated to blast off on Monday evening – but onlookers were left horrified when an “anomaly” sparked a fireball on the launchpad.
Fortunately, nobody was injured in the accident, but dramatic footage from a safe distance away showed the sheer size and strength of the explosion.
Flames and sparks shot out in every direction from the stricken rocket engine before an enormous blaze erupted in the middle of the SaxaVord Spaceport.
Dramatic footage from the spaceport showed the moment the rocket was engulfed in flames
BBC
More flames and smoke billowed into the air in the aftermath of the incident, though RFA soon clarified that “any immediate danger has been mitigated”.
A spokesman from the firm said: “On Monday evening, RFA (Rocket Factory Augsburg) conducted a hot fire of its first stage at their launch site at SaxaVord Spaceport.
“This resulted in an anomaly that led to the loss of the stage. No one was injured in the process.
“The launch pad has been saved and is secured, the situation is under control, and any immediate danger has been mitigated.”
LATEST SPACE NEWS:
Smoke shot into the sky after the explosion
BBC
RFA said a probe had been launched into the incident – but the company expressed confidence that this is what tests were all about.
Their spokesman clarified: “We develop iteratively with an emphasis on real testing.
“This is part of our philosophy and we were aware of the higher risks attached to this approach. Our goal is to return to regular operations as soon as possible.
While a spokesman from launch site operators SaxaVord said: “This was a test, and test campaigns are designed to identify issues prior to the next stage.
“We will work with RFA to understand and learn from the causes and support them as they move forward to the next phase of their preparations.”
The launch site in Unst, in the very north of the Shetlands, had seen success in its first test back in May – again, a “hotfire test” conducted by RFA.
But the landmark site, despite Monday night’s explosion, could lead the way in European space launches – which have traditionally been carried out in Kazakhstan or French Guiana.
SaxaVord is set to be the first Western European spaceport to launch satellites, rockets and more vertically into orbit, with Civil Aviation Authority approval to send 30 payloads per year into space.