Isar Aerospace Reaches Orbit on Its Second Flight, a First for a European Commercial Launcher
Isar Aerospace deployed satellites on its second flight, days after four American companies walked out of a Paris summit about European space sovereignty.
Key Highlights:
- September 6, 2026 – 9:29 am
- Launch Location: Andøya Spaceport, Norway
- Achievement: First commercial European company to deploy satellites into orbit on its second flight.
Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket took off from Andøya on Saturday night, reaching orbit within four minutes. This mission, titled "Onward and Upward," marked a significant milestone as the first private space mission to reach orbit from continental Europe.
The rocket’s first attempt in March last year lasted only 30 seconds before crashing. Subsequent delays were due to weather, technical issues, and a boat intruding into the launch range.
Payloads for this mission came from educational institutions and startups selected through the German Space Agency’s Microlauncher Competition, funded by an ESA program.
Daniel Metzler, CEO of Isar Aerospace, stated:
"Today, Isar Aerospace opened space from Continental Europe."
He further emphasized that launch remains a significant bottleneck for the global space industry.
Coinciding Timing:
The launch happens just four days before Macron’s Paris space summit, from which SpaceX and Blue Origin withdrew last week under White House pressure. The summit’s theme centers around European sovereignty in space.
Andøya Spaceport, established last year, is continental Europe’s first spaceport for orbital launches.
Spectrum Rocket Specifications:
- Height: 28 meters
- Payload Capacity: 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit
- Comparison: Smaller than a Falcon 9, enabling specific orbit placement
Isar Aerospace secured a EUR 270 million round this year and signed a roughly EUR 200 million contract with the European Space Agency in August. The company plans to manufacture up to 40 rockets annually at a factory near Munich, with orders already filling the manifest until 2028.
European Space Landscape:
Europe previously maintained sovereign access through Ariane 6 from French Guiana. However, until Saturday, it lacked a commercial rocket reaching orbit from European soil, with five companies competing to change this.