Bavarian Isar Aerospace rocket successfully reaches space

Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket has reached orbit on its second test flight, a breakthrough for the German startup after months of delays and a failed first attempt. The 28-meter rocket lifted off from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport at 10:12 p.m. on Saturday.

The launch was visible during a livestream. About four minutes after liftoff, commentators said the rocket had reached roughly 100 kilometers above Earth, the Kármán line commonly used as the boundary of space. Viewers also saw the first stage separate. The video connection ended after 10 minutes when the rocket moved beyond the transmission link’s maximum range.

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The first such flight from the European continent has successfully reached Earth orbit.

Spectrum carried five scientific satellites from several universities and a scientific experiment. During its first test flight, in March 2025, the rocket crashed after only 30 seconds. The second attempt had also been postponed four times. A faulty valve delayed the original January launch, a fishing boat entered the maritime safety zone in March, a leaking pressure vessel halted preparations in April, and another problem emerged in June.

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We have made history. On our second flight, we became the first commercial space company from Europe to bring satellites into orbit.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the launch as the first such flight from the European continent to place a payload into orbit. Isar Aerospace said it had become the first European commercial space company to put satellites into orbit on its second flight. Chief Executive Daniel Metzler said Europe now had sovereign access to space.

The company plans further launches this year, and construction of the third Spectrum rocket is already well advanced. Once operational, the rocket is intended to carry civilian and military satellites into low Earth orbit. Isar Aerospace plans to produce 40 rockets a year. The German government, the European Union and other European countries view the company’s success as strategically important for Europe.

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In just a few years, we have achieved what the European space industry previously needed decades to accomplish. Europe now has sovereign access to space.