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German Space Rocket Reaches Orbit in Europe’s First Commercial Launch

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • German startup Isar Aerospace said its uncrewed Spectrum rocket reached orbit from Norway’s Arctic Andøya Spaceport, carrying five small satellites and a technology experiment.
  • The launch marked the first commercial rocket to reach orbit from continental Europe and advanced efforts to establish independent European access to space.
  • Isar said it plans to expand production and could begin launches from a second site in Nova Scotia in 2028.

A German startup has reached orbit on its second rocket attempt, a breakthrough it says will help Europe build an independent launch capability.

Isar Aerospace’s uncrewed Spectrum rocket lifted off from Andøya Spaceport in Arctic Norway, carrying five small satellites and an in-flight technology experiment. The company said the mission served both as the rocket’s qualification flight and its first payload-carrying mission. It described the launch as the first commercial rocket to reach orbit from continental Europe.

Launch capability is right now the biggest bottleneck in the entire industry.

· Daniel MetzlerIsar Aerospace’s co-founder and CEO described the main constraint facing the satellite-launch sector.

“Launch capability is right now the biggest bottleneck in the entire industry,” Isar co-founder and CEO Daniel Metzler told reporters. He said the privately owned company remained well funded and that an initial public offering “is not on the table.”

The beginning of a new era.

· Friedrich MerzThe German chancellor’s reaction to Isar’s orbital launch.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the launch “the beginning of a new era.” EU Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius wrote on X that “Europe’s independent access to space just got a major boost.” Norway’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Cecilie Myrseth said the ability to launch satellites from Andøya strengthened Norwegian and European security.

The achievement came 18 months after Isar’s first rocket plunged into the sea and exploded shortly after takeoff from the same site. No one was injured. Isar said it already has five more rockets in production and is focused on scaling up to meet rising demand, with a long-term goal of around 40 launches a year. The company is also developing a launch site in Nova Scotia, eastern Canada, which it said could be ready for liftoffs in 2028.

Europe’s independent access to space just got a major boost.

· Andrius KubiliusThe EU defense and space commissioner welcomed the launch in a post on X.

The launch adds a European competitor to a market led by SpaceX and France’s ArianeGroup. Sweden and Britain are also developing launch operations intended to increase Europe’s autonomy in spaceflight. Isar said it secured about €200 million, though the supplied text ends before giving further details.

The fact that we can now launch satellites from Andøya strengthens Norwegian and European security in the turbulent times we live in.

· Cecilie MyrsethNorway’s industry and commerce minister linked the launch site to European and Norwegian security.
About this summary

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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