Isar Aerospace became the first European private company to launch an orbital rocket from Western Europe. The test flight of the Spectrum rocket took place at Andøya Spaceport in Norway and lasted around 30 seconds. The rocket lifted off at 12:30 p.m. and subsequently descended in a controlled manner into the sea. The startup collected important flight data for future missions in the process.
Daniel Metzler, CEO and co-founder of Isar Aerospace, explains:
“Our first test flight exceeded all our expectations and was a great success. We had a clean launch, 30 seconds of flight time, and were even able to validate our Flight Termination System. We have proven that we can not only design and build rockets, but also launch them. I could not be prouder of our entire team, which has worked so hard over the past seven years to reach this important milestone. Today we have laid the groundwork to meet the growing global demand for flexible satellite launch services. Now it is time to analyze all the data, learn, improve, and get back on the launch pad as soon as possible.”
Bülent Altan, Chairman of Isar Aerospace and former SpaceX manager, also praised the team:
“This test flight met our expectations for a first launch with a completely new design in every respect. From my own experience, I know that it usually takes several attempts to reach orbit, but after today’s test flight, I am very confident that Isar Aerospace will be among the fastest to achieve this. This test flight is a major success for Isar Aerospace and the space industry in the broader sense.”
Isar Aerospace takes important step for European space travel
Isar Aerospace emerged as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The startup received intensive support and has already raised over 400 million euros in capital. The founders Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann, and Markus Brandl developed initial prototypes in the makerspace of UnternehmerTUM and went through the Xpreneurs incubator program.
The Spectrum rocket is designed to transport small and medium-sized satellites in particular. These play a central role in future technologies such as communication networks, autonomous driving, and digital agriculture. With a payload capacity of up to 1,000 kilograms, the company offers a flexible and cost-effective solution for satellite launches.
The success of the first test flight marks an important step forward for the European space industry. While larger European launch vehicles like Ariane launch from French Guiana, the Munich-based startup is advancing the development of an independent infrastructure in Europe.
“As a company with European roots, we are proud to have demonstrated that Europe has an enduring capacity for bold thinking and great achievements,”
Metzler continues.
As a next step, the company is analyzing the collected flight data in detail. The next two rockets are already in production. With its location in Ottobrunn near Munich, the startup plans to manufacture up to 40 rockets per year in the future and serve the growing demand for satellite launches.
