Historic rocket launch from Norway cancelled after fishing boat enters safety zone

A planned rocket launch from Andøya Space Center in northern Norway was abruptly cancelled Wednesday evening after an unauthorised fishing vessel entered the designated safety zone, Dagbladet reports.

The launch, which would have marked the first time a rocket carrying satellites was sent into orbit from mainland Europe, was postponed after the vessel Einar Erlend failed to clear the area in time. German aerospace company Isar Aerospace, responsible for the launch, confirmed in a statement that the countdown was halted “due to a violation of the safety zone by an unauthorised boat,” forcing the mission to exceed its launch window.

Fishermen defend their presence
Einar Helge Meløysund, owner of the Einar Erlend, dismissed criticism of the vessel’s location, stating that the area is a critical fishing ground. “The sea is vast, but this is where the cod, pollock, and haddock come every year,” he told Dagbladet from his boat. “This is our workplace. If we’re delayed, it’s not sabotage—we’re just doing our job.”

Olafur Einarsson, skipper of the vessel, told industry publication Kyst og Fjord that the crew had been delayed by tangled fishing gear, causing them to remain in the zone longer than intended. He rejected suggestions of intentional disruption, emphasising that fishermen and the space centre “each do our own work.”

Space centre points to coordination efforts
Ketil Olsen, CEO of Andøya Space Center, disputed claims of poor communication, stating that the facility maintains “good dialogue with most fishermen” in the area. While the safety warning covers a month-long period (19 March–19 April), Olsen noted that actual restrictions apply only for “two to four hours” on launch days.

“Until then, fishermen can operate normally,” he said in an email to Dagbladet. “We provide real-time updates during countdowns and release the area immediately after use.”

Meløysund argued that launches should avoid peak fishing seasons, calling the timing “amateurish.” The disputed zone, he claimed, has become one of Norway’s most important cod fishing grounds. “It’s always the fishermen who have to yield—first to oil, now to space,” he said.

Andøya Space Center maintains that launch schedules are coordinated with fishing representatives in advance to minimise disruption.