Sweden’s research rocket malfunctions mid-flight, lands in Norway

Europe, News April 27, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

A research rocket launched by Sweden Space Corp (SSC) malfunctioned and crashed 15 kilometers inside neighboring Norway. The rocket was launched from Esrange Space Center on April 24, 2023. The space center is in Sweden’s uninhabited northern area.

The rocket was not intended to be sent into space. Its primary purpose was to reach 250 kilometers of altitude for zero-gravity experiments. According to the Swedish space agency’s official statement, the rocket took a slightly longer and more westerly trajectory than calculated and landed after a completed flight 15 kilometers into Norway.

According to the researchers working on the program, experiments carried out by the rocket will contribute to the transition away from fossil fuels to green energy technology as well as help understand how planets are born.

The head of communications at the SSC Philip Ohlsson told reported that the rocket and its payload landed at an altitude of around 1,000 meters in a mountain range of the uninhabited Malselv region, missing the planned landing site by 40 kilometers. He added that the rocket landed in a remote area 10 kilometers from the closest settlement.

Ohlsson mentioned that relevant Norwegian and Swedish authorities remained in contact for the recovery of the rocket and its payload. There are routines in place when things go wrong and we inform both Swedish and Norwegian governments, and other actors, he said.

The rocket in question was a TEXUS-58. It is part of a European initiative commissioned by the European Space Agency. SSC said that the rocket was recovered in “good condition” and was transported back to the center by helicopter. An investigation is underway to determine what led to the malfunction. Researchers at the Esrange Space Center would examinethe rocket and its payload to analyze the results of experiments.

*^{Sweden’s TEXUS-58 research rocket payload launched from Esrange Space Center landed in Norway. (Image Credit: Swedish Space Corporation)}*

Head of the rocket and balloon operation at the Esrange Space Center Marko Kohberg said that “We are now investigating the reason why the rocket flew farther northwest than normal. It is still too early to speculate about the cause.”

Norwegian officials responded to the incident by saying that they were not informed about the deviation in the rocket’s trajectory. A spokesperson from Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that their counterparts did not yet send a formal notification of the incident from the Swedish authorities.

“The Norwegian authorities take any unauthorized activity on the Norwegian side of the border very seriously,” the Norwegian official said. In the event of any border violation, those responsible should immediately inform the relevant Norwegian authorities, including the foreign ministry, through the right channels, the spokesperson added.