A rocket launched by a German company fell to the ground and exploded into a huge fireball just 40 seconds after takeoff.
The unmanned Spectrum rocket was billed as the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe.
Isar Aerospace, which had warned that the initial launch could end prematurely, said the test produced extensive data from which its team can learn.
Launching from the Arctic Andoeya Spaceport in Norway, the Spectrum is designed for small and medium-sized satellites weighing up to one metric tonne.
Isar Aerospace launched the vessel
Reuters/Nasa
Isar Aerospace launched the vessel
Reuters
The vessel did not carry a payload on its maiden flight and Germany's BDLI aerospace industries association said Isar's first flight would lead to further progress.
Isar chief executive Daniel Metzler said in a statement: "Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success. We had a clean lift-off, 30 seconds of flight, and even got to validate our flight termination system."
BDLI Managing Director Marie-Christine von Hahn said: "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space. Elon Musk's Starlink is not without alternatives - nor should it be."
The launch was the largest German rocket since V2, the jet developed by the Nazis during World War Two.
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Daniel Metzler, CEO of Isar Aerospace
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Earlier this year, a SpaceX test flight experienced severe issues, leading to its Starship rocket breaking up over the Gulf of Mexico, forcing commercial airlines to divert their routes to avoid falling debris.
The incident occurred just eight and a half minutes into the flight from Texas, after the spacecraft's six engines began shutting down one by one during ascent.
The new and upgraded model was carrying 10 dummy satellites and was meant to complete a near loop around the world, similar to previous test flights.
SpaceX described the incident as a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" in a post on X, prompting mockery on social media.
The Prime Rocket unveiled by the British aerospace company Orbex in 2019
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Other European countries are developing their own rocket launch plans.
Labour had previously announced a £20million in funding for the construction and launch of the first British-manufactured and launched orbital rocket. The rocket, named Prime, is being built by Orbex, based in Scotland.
Britain has also been developing its SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands, as a rival to the Norwegian site, all of which aim to give Europe greater autonomy in space flights.
However, the site had a setback when a rocket engine exploded during a test last year.