A rocket by a private European aerospace company launched from Norway on Sunday and crashed into the sea 30 seconds later.

Europe took a significant step in its aerospace ambitions with the first test launch of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket. View on euronews

Spectrum lifted off from Norway’s picturesque Andøya Spaceport and cleared the launch pad. But after about 30 seconds, the vehicle activated its flight termination system, shutting down its engines and sending it tumbling nose-down into the sea “in a controlled manner,” Isar said.