Swedish scientists accidentally fired a rocket at Norway

The Swedish Space Center launched an experimental rocket from Esrange. The purpose of the launch was to study microgravity on board. The launch was successful and the rocket reached the design altitude of 155 miles. The second stage of the flight was supposed to be its return to the starting point. But something went wrong and the rocket landed in a completely different place – namely, in a neighboring country.

To put it simply, the rocket landed in Norway! This event caused a real stir, although the two Scandinavian countries have long had peaceful and good neighborly relations. The rocket deviated 25 miles northwest of its planned landing trajectory and landed in a northern region of Norway called Malselv. The Swedish Science Centre contacted authorities on both sides of the border and its message was heard.

The Norwegian authorities gave the space center the necessary support, but pointed out that there had been no official notification from Sweden that a Swedish rocket could fall in their territory. The Swedes coordinated with their neighbors to fly a helicopter in which the wreckage of the rocket and its payload were taken to Esrange for examination.