Isar Aerospace, a new German start-up, successfully launched its small Spectrum rocket from a new spaceport in northern Norway. The roughly 30-second test flight was a massive achievement for the small company. The launch may have taken all of three minutes, but it was an unequivocal success. Way to go, Isar Aerospace – what an accomplishment! This event is the latest milestone in the company’s ambitious re-formation to open space access for customers around the world.
The successful launch of the Spectrum rocket would be a big deal for Isar Aerospace. First and foremost, it set out to address one of the biggest gaps in Europe’s security architecture—access to space. It has been a historic pattern of Europe coming in second in the space race. Currently, the United States and China are at the forefront thanks to their influential private sector companies and state-owned enterprises. With this successful test-launch under its belt, Isar Aerospace shows that it’s serious about competing on the global stage.
This test flight was the first such flight for Isar Aerospace. It was a monumental step for continental Europe’s history. Other than Russia, this was the first time a launch vehicle capable of reaching orbit was launched from continental Europe. While the European Space Agency—comprising 23 member nations—and companies like ArianeGroup have launched rockets into orbit, this launch signifies a new era for private European space ventures.
“Isar Aerospace met its set goals: After ignition of its first stage, Spectrum successfully lifted off … for its first test flight lasting approximately 30 seconds. This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions.” – Isar Aerospace
Nothing could renew a hopeful overcomer’s compartment like Isar Aerospace’s CEO and co-founder, Daniel Metzler. His goal is to position Isar Aerospace as Europe’s independent powerhouse of aerospace innovation. Space is rapidly evolving, and Isar Aerospace is committed to enabling European and international customers to reliably access space. Their ambition is to connect what today Europe is capable of.
