Isar Aerospace reaches orbit on second flight, deploys payloads
Original: Isar Aerospace reaches orbit and deploys payloads on second flight
Why This Matters
Europe's first commercial orbital launch marks a new sovereign alternative to US and Asian launch providers.
On September 5, 2026, Isar Aerospace became the first commercial European space company to successfully deliver satellites into orbit. The mission 'Onward and Upward' launched from Andøya Space in Norway at 10:12 pm CEST, completing full orbital insertion and payload deployment on only its second flight.
Isar Aerospace's 'Spectrum' rocket lifted off from its dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space, Norway, completing all critical milestones: MaxQ transit, main engine cutoff (MECO), stage separation, second-stage ignition, Kármán line crossing at 100 km altitude, fairing jettison, circularization burn, and successful spacecraft separation. The payloads were selected via the German Space Agency (DLR) Microlauncher Competition, funded through ESA Boost!, providing educational institutions and startups with low-cost orbital access. CEO and Co-Founder Daniel Metzler stated: 'Today, Isar Aerospace opened space from Continental Europe,' adding that 'Europe now has sovereign access to space.' The company confirmed that Spectrum vehicles 3–7 are already in production. A new 40,000 m² production facility is nearing completion, targeting a capacity of up to 40 launch vehicles per year. A second launch complex is under construction in Nova Scotia, Canada, targeting mid- to high-inclination orbits for Earth observation and communications.