A rocket launched from Sweden that malfunctioned, and landed in Norway is being investigated.
According to reports, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry has stated that its authorities “take any unauthorised activity” along its border “very serious”.
The rocket that looked at weightlessness had reached an orbit of 250km (155miles) where it carried out experiments in zero gravity, before it went off track.
Sweden Space Corporation, the company behind the launch, stated that it took a longer and westerly path than predicted.
The rocket and payload fell at a height of 1km, in a mountainous region 15km (9.3miles) deep inside Norway. It was located about 40km north-west of the intended landing site.
Philip Ohlsson, from SSC, said that the plane landed “10km away from the nearest settlement” and in an area with no people.
The projectile was to land near the border. It was launched from Esrange Space Centre in Kiruna, northern Sweden at 7.20am local (8.20am UK) on Monday.
SSC said that the SSC is working to recover the payload, and will conduct an investigation into the technical reasons for the unplanned flight route.
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Mr Ohlsson stated that procedures are in place when things like this go wrong. The company informs the Swedish, Norwegian and other governments.
Lennart Poromaa, the head of Esrange Space Centre in Norway, told Norwegian news site NRK that Norway’s defence officials were informed prior to the launch and updated when the rocket landed.
NRK reported that the Norwegian military’s operational headquarters confirmed receiving these two notifications from Swedes.
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