Isar Aerospace has declared its first Spectrum rocket launch a success, despite a crash shortly after takeoff at the Andøya Spaceport in Norway. The launch, notable for being the first orbital rocket fired from mainland Europe, ended in an explosion just seconds after liftoff. This incident highlights the challenges faced by European startups as they strive for independence in space exploration amid ongoing efforts to find alternatives to established players like SpaceX. While there were successful test flights prior to this launch, including from a private European aerospace startup, the latest failure emphasizes the hurdles that remain in achieving reliable orbital flight capabilities.