The first orbital rocket launched from continental Europe crashed seconds after blast-off on Sunday, in a closely watched test for the continent's bid to build a new space economy. The Spectrum rocket, developed by German start-up Isar Aerospace, started smoking from its sides, then crashed back to Earth with a powerful explosion just after launching from Norway's Andoya Spaceport in the Arctic. Regional police said no injuries or damage beyond the rocket itself had been reported. Orbital rockets are designed to place loads such as satellites into or beyond Earth's orbit. — AFP
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