Launch service agreements with ESA and the European Commission
nnnnIsar Aerospace has concluded two launch service agreements with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission. The Isar Aerospace contracts with ESA and the EU secure ESA launches under the Flight Ticket Initiative and are considered the first launch agreements between a privately funded European rocket company and European institutions. Two missions are planned aboard the carrier rocket ‘Spectrum’ starting in 2026.
nnnnLaunch point for missions starting in 2026 is Andøya
nnnnThe Isar Aerospace contracts with ESA and the EU include the ‘CASSINI Mission’ developed by Dutch company ISISpace and the ‘Tom-&-Jerry Mission’ by French company Infinite Orbits. Both satellites are to launch from the Norwegian spaceport Andøya aboard the Spectrum.
nnnnThe Flight Ticket Initiative is a joint program of the European Commission via Horizon Europe IOD-IOV and Boost! of the ESA and supports European launch services. The program provides co-financing and selects providers through competition to demonstrate and qualify new technologies in orbit.
nnnnWith these contracts, the Munich startup sets a precedent for institutional contracts with privately funded rocket providers in Europe.
nnnnDaniel Metzler, CEO and co-founder of Isar Aerospace, says:
nnnnnnnnn“Isar Aerospace provides sovereign space capacity for Europe and its partners. These agreements underscore the trust that European institutions place in our launch services. They strengthen independent access to space for Europe and lay the foundation for future institutional missions under other programs such as the European Launcher Challenge.”
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For the Munich startup, the agreement means more than just securing its first institutional contracts. It also positions it more strongly as a partner for future European space projects. With this, Isar Aerospace underscores the growing role of startups in the European space sector.
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