The German rocket manufacturing company "Rocket Factory Augsburg" reported today, Tuesday, an explosion of a rocket engine during a test launch at a new spaceport in the Shetland Islands off the northern coast of Scotland. The company noted that "there were no injuries from the explosion that occurred at the Saxavord Spaceport on the remote island of Unst on Monday evening."
The company stated in a release, "We successfully retrieved and secured the launch platform; the situation is under control, there is no immediate danger, and we are working in partnership with the authorities to investigate the cause of the explosion."
A circulated video of the launch on Monday showed the rocket engine exploding on the launch pad, engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing from the entire structure.
