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Isar Aerospace has reached orbit from Arctic Norway, giving Europe’s push for independent access to space a major lift. The German startup said it would now rapidly expand satellite deployments after Spectrum’s successful launch from Andøya Spaceport.

The uncrewed rocket became the first commercial rocket to reach orbit from continental Europe. It carried five small satellites and an in-flight technology experiment, and was designed for the growing market for small and medium-sized payloads.

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

“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 was “not on the table.”

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Not on the table.

The launch was Spectrum’s second. Eighteen months earlier, 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 additional rockets in production and is focusing on expanding operations to meet rising demand, with a long-term target of roughly 40 launches annually.

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

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The beginning of a new era.

Isar is also developing a launch site in Nova Scotia, eastern Canada, which it said could be ready for launches in 2028. The company said Saturday’s mission served both as a vehicle qualification flight and as its first flight carrying payloads. Isar last week said it had secured about €200 million ($232 million).

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