Isar Aerospace Soars to Orbit On Historic Second Launch

Isar Aerospace is one of many European launch companies attempting to kickstart private space launch for the region with their Spectrum rocket. Spectrum’s first launch back on March 30th, 2025 failed shortly after liftoff, with the vehicle losing control and falling back to the ground. The second flight, which lifted off from Andøya Spaceport in Norway on September 5th, 2026 at 10:12 PM Central European Summer Time, was a major improvement, becoming the first successful satellite launch from continental Europe. 

The Spectrum rocket is designed to carry around 1,000 kilograms to orbit, falling under the capabilities of ArianeSpace’s Vega, closer to the Alpha rocket operated by Firefly Aerospace in the United States. The vehicle uses propane and oxidizer as propellant, giving the rocket’s fuel a very high energy density, and uses ten in-house Aquila engines: nine on stage one, and another on the upper stage. 

Spectrum completed its full ascent profile, with the upper stage completing two burns to insert its payload into a stable orbit. Notably, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell, it does not appear the upper stage deorbited itself. Despite some visible rotation during the stream, live commentary from NASASpaceflight, and subsequent statements from both Isar Aerospace and the European Space Agency confirmed nominal behavior from the rocket and a successful orbital payload delivery.

The mission, designated “Onward and Upward,” delivered five small cubesats into orbit, alongside a nonseparating payload. The payloads were selected and assigned to Isar Aerospace under the German Aerospace Center at DLR’s microlauncher competition, using funding from ESA’s Boost! programme. The Boost! programme is designed to stimulate the development of private European space capabilities for delivery to, operation in, and return from space. Spectrum has also received direct funding from the program in the past. 

With the United States and China both undergoing major booms to commercial aerospace over the last decade, Europe is left pushing hard to catch up. While the French Ariane 6 launch vehicle has been incredibly successful, already flying 9 successful missions into orbit, there have not been any alternative launchers outside of Arianespace’s Ariane and Vega vehicles. This has meant options for domestic European satellite delivery have had limited availability and options for a wide variety of payloads. 

Should all work according to current schedules, Isar Aerospace will not be the only new European Launcher in the headlines this year. While the current target is unclear, Rocket Factory Augsburg, also funded through the microlauncher competition and Boost! programme, should attempt its first orbital launch by the end of this year. For now, Isar has placed itself in a historic position, and has a head start on establishing itself as a premier alternative to ArianeSpace for European small launch, as Europe seeks a competitive foothold in global launch.