Rocket launched from Sweden accidentally crashed in Norway

According to Sky News, yesterday at 07:20 local time, the rocket launched from the Esrange Space Center near Kiruna in northern Sweden and expected to land in an area close to the border missed its target.

The research rocket launched by the Swedish Space Company (SSC) deviated from its route after reaching an altitude of 250 kilometers and crashed into a mountainous area in Norway.

The SSC reported that the rocket was heading slightly further west than had been estimated.

The rocket and its payload, which was believed to be unable to land on its target due to a malfunction, came down approximately 40 kilometers northwest of the intended landing site.

An SSC official said the area where the rocket crashed was “10 kilometers from the nearest settlement.”

Norwegian Foreign Ministry officials said in a statement that the incident was taken “very seriously.” (AA)