Rocket engine explodes at Shetland spaceport

A rocket engine has exploded during a test at Britain’s newest spaceport in the Shetland Islands.

The rocket body, developed by German start-up Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), burst into flames seconds after ignition while on the launch pad on Monday night.

The start-up said the “hot fire” test of the first stage rocket resulted in an “anomaly” and the loss of the spacecraft.

#UK #Rocket #Explosion

[philippayne]

And in other news, the UK has banned the use of log burners

[photoisca]

I remember the times when France, Germany, Italy and U.K were building a satellite launch system named Europa. The first stage was the British Blue Streak, it never failed it was always one of the others. The Labour government got fed up and left the partnership, as usual The French took leadership and everything went swimmingly. Funny that. The project became Ariane and the French established a spaceport in Guyana which makes plenty of money to this day.

[happylittlemonk]

That is why the call it Shetland. Every time they launch a rocket, everyone says Oh Shet

[StereoSpace]

To be fair, they did say it was a "hot fire" test, and it seems to have been a success.

[AquaValet]

That won’t be doing net zero ambitions much good

[BlueArsedGibbon]

If it was a "hot fire" test I'd say that was a massive success. Yes, fire indeed hot. A+

[AllanHinde-mbpr]

I’m so glad I have to reuse the same plastic bag

[cornovii]

But using my car to get my weekly shopping is bad 😡

[soothsayer]

Wow, Modern German Engineering is simply Awe-Inspiring and Amazing...quite a Fiery show!

[susangarbutt]

I hope no one was injured, although the climate activists will be having a melt down.

[WhiteIkiryo-ytit]

This is par for the course of British engineering. Now, back to the shed and get the tea on and it will be a success on the third try.

[hoosierdaddy]

When I think rocket`s I don`t think Britain.

[keefsmiff]

I told them ...i told them, that blue touchpaper system was never going to work

[dosmastrify]

This is getting erroneously linked to by people looking for blue origin explosion

[J.P_Sullivan]

Just try again! Practice makes perfect!❤

[Rosemary-izvc]

How much money has gone up in flames, was it our money?

[happylittlemonk]

I wonder how many pensionaries home could have been heated in winter with that fuel

[johngardiner]

That's why they call it a "test" 😅

[rajeshx]

Don't give up better luck next time

[Mike_]

Impressive quality control testing prior to the launch by our German friends