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Isar Aerospace

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Isar Aerospace
TypePrivately held company
IndustryAerospace
FoundedMarch 2018; 8 years ago (2018-03)
Founder
  • Daniel Metzler
  • Markus Brandl
  • Josef Peter Fleischmann
Headquarters
Ottobrunn
,
Germany
ProductsSpectrum
Number of employees
400+[1] (2024)
Websiteisaraerospace.com

Isar Aerospace is a German aerospace company based in Ottobrunn near Munich. It was founded in 2018,[2] named after the river that flows through Munich.[3]

The company developed Spectrum, a two-stage, liquid-fueled rocket designed to launch up to 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit.[4] Isar Aerospace intends to manufacture 80% of the rocket themselves, using primarily technology from the tech firms in the area surrounding Munich.[5]

On 5 September 2026, the company's second launch of Spectrum reached orbit and successfully deployed its payloads, making it the first successful orbital flight from Northern Europe, making Andøya Spaceport the second active spaceport in Europe after Plesetsk Cosmodrome and third European spaceport in history after Kapustin Yar launch facility and Plesetsk Cosmodrome.[6]

Funding

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In 2018 Isar Aerospace received first angel investment from early SpaceX leader Bulent Altan and others.[7][8] In April 2020 Isar Aerospace closed US$17M in Series A funding led by Earlybird and Airbus Ventures to build its space platform.[9][10] In December 2020, the company got an additional €75 million ($91 million) in funding led by Lakestar and with participation of HV Capital and Ann-Kristin and Paul Achleitner as well as existing investors.[11]

In July 2021, Porsche SE acquired a small stake in Isar Aerospace.[12] The financial terms of the deal are not disclosed, but it is known that in the new round of financing, the startup raised about $75 million. Porsche explained of its investment that Isar Aerospace had great potential to become a leading European manufacturer of launch vehicles.[13][14]

In March 2023, the startup raised a $165 million Series C from 7-Industries Holding, Bayern Kapital, Lombard Odier and existing investors.[15] An additional $70 million was raised in 2024 from the NATO Innovation Fund and others as an extension of an earlier Series C round. The total funding has exceeded 400 million euros.[16]

Partnerships

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In April 2021, Isar Aerospace, signed a contract with Andøya Space to lease a launch pad. The 20-year deal allows the company to launch their Spectrum launch vehicle from Andøya Spaceport.[17]

In January 2022 the company won European Commission's European Innovation Council (EIC) Horizon Prize "Low-Cost Space Launch", which included a grant of 10 million Euros.[18] In July 2022, Isar Aerospace announced that the French space agency, the CNES, selected the startup to be the first private company to launch from the Guiana Space Centre, in French Guiana. The company will use the launchpad formerly used by Diamant.[19]

In November 2022, Isar Aerospace and Exotrail signed a multiple launch services agreement. The launch vehicle Spectrum will launch Exotrail's spacevan vehicle on several firm launches to low Earth Orbit (LEO) and geostationary transfer orbits (GTO) from Isar Aerospace's launch sites.[20][21][22] In March 2026, Isar Aerospace would sign a launch service agreement with Astroscale, which will see the launch of the ELSA-M in a In-Orbit Demonstration mission.[23]

In May 2026, Isar Aerospace established a cooperation with the German maritime defence company TKMS as part of their (successful)[24] bid for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. Isar Aerospace would help establish sovereign Canadian access to space.[25][26] Later in May 2026, Isar Aerospace has signed a letter of intent with Maritime Launch Services to conduct rocket launches from their Nova Scotia spaceport.[27] On 7 July 2026, Isar Aerospace signed a 10-year agreement with Maritime Launch Services including a launch pad and other facilities needed for launching Spectrum from Spaceport Nova Scotia.[28][29]

On 1 September 2026, the company signed its second launch service agreement with Astroscale, which will see the launch of their active debris removal mission ADRAS-J2 onboard a Spectrum launch vehicle, with the launch targeted to happen between 2027 and 2028 from Andøya Spaceport.[30] On 15 September 2026, after the first successful flight of Spectrum, Isar Aerospace signed a multiple launch service agreement with SEOPS for additional five dedicated launches between 2028 and 2030.[31][32][33][34]

Test launches

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Going Full Spectrum

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On 30 March 2025, the inaugural launch of Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket took place under the mission name "Going Full Spectrum". Launching from Andøya Spaceport, the liftoff was successful; however, the rocket experienced an anomaly 30 seconds into flight and was terminated, causing it to fall back to the earth and explode upon impact.[35][36][37][38] An investigation found that the rocket's vent valve had opened unexpectedly, leading to a loss of attitude control at the start of the roll maneuver.[39]

Onward and Upward

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The second test flight of Spectrum, dubbed “Onward and Upward,” was first slated to launch 25 March 2026 from Andøya Spaceport, but was interrupted by a fishing boat that was stuck within the safety zone.[40] The launch was postponed to no earlier than 9 April 2026,[41] and was then delayed due to a leak in a composite overwrapped pressure vessel.[42] The launch was again pushed back on 15 June 2026, due to detected 'off-nominal behaviour in the vehicle's fluid systems'.[43] From maritime safety notices sent out by the Norwegian Coastal Administration, it was noted that Isar Aerospace gained a launch window from 4 September to 10 September 2026, with a launch attempt made on 4 September 2026,[44] although it would once again be pushed back due to high winds speeds, up to 24 knots, grounding the Spectrum rocket.[45] The mission was intended as a qualification flight and was the first flight of Spectrum to carry payloads, including several CubeSats and an experiment selected under the European Space Agency’s Boost! program.[46]

Isar Aerospace would successfully launch this second test flight of Spectrum into orbit on 5 September 2026,[47][48] making it the first successful orbital flight from Northern Europe,[48] and the first to be done so by a commercial company launching from Europe.[49] The mission carried five CubeSats from universities and companies, together with one experiment: TriSat-S (University of Maribor and SkyLabs); FramSat-1 (NTNU SpaceTeam); Sat1 (TU Wien Space Team); CyBEEsat (TU Berlin); Platform 6 (EnduroSat) and Let It Go (experiment, Dcubed).[50]

Commercial launches

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Isar's first commercial Spectrum launch carrying R-Space's AT-Astra, is currently targeting a launch window NET November 26, 2026 through February 17, 2027 per a Norwegian aviation notice.[51]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "SpaceX's German rival Isar Aerospace secures €65M from Nato Innovation Fund — TFN". Tech Funding News. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  2. ↑ Berger, Eric (September 21, 2020). "A German rocket startup seeks to disrupt the European launch industry". Ars Technica.
  3. ↑ "US interest in German space start-ups is not rocket science". www.ft.com.
  4. ↑ "German launch startup raises $17 million with help from Airbus Ventures and an ex-SpaceX employee". SpaceNews. December 12, 2019.
  5. ↑ "German Aerospace Startup Joins the International Space Race". amp.interestingengineering.com. 7 September 2020.
  6. ↑ Solsvik, Terje (5 September 2026). "German rocket reaches space as Europe enters satellite launch race".
  7. ↑ "Bulent Altan: Rocket Man". yung and wlde (in German). Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  8. ↑ "Alpine Space Ventures schließt 170 Mio. EUR Early-Stage-Fonds". VC Magazin (in German). 11 July 2024.
  9. ↑ Maday, Melissa (April 16, 2020). "Isar Aerospace Expands Into Next-Generation Rocket Production Facilities Near Munich". SpaceWatch.Global.
  10. ↑ Tischer, Simon (20 December 2019). "Isar Aerospace schließt Finanzierungsrunde mit 17 Millionen Dollar ab". Munich Startup (in German).
  11. ↑ Lunden, Ingrid (8 December 2020). "Germany's Isar Aerospace raises $91M to get its satellite launch vehicle off the ground". TechCrunch. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "Porsche инвестировала в разработчика ракет-носителей Isar Aerospace". inventure.com.ua (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  13. ↑ "Porsche приобрела долю в разработчике ракет-носителей". TAdviser.ru. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  14. ↑ Heuberger, Sarah (28 July 2021). "Isar Aerospace gewinnt Porsche als neuen Investor". Business Insider (in German).
  15. ↑ "Space company Isar Aerospace secures Series C Funding Round of USD 165m to meet global demand for access to space". SpaceNews. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  16. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2024-06-20). "Isar Aerospace raises $70 million". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  17. ↑ "Isar Aerospace signs exclusive launch pad in Norway for up to 20 years". www.andoyaspace.no. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  18. ↑ "Isar Aerospace wins European Commission's EIC Horizon Prize and receives 10 million euros – CAREERS IN SPACE". 28 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "Isar Aerospace selected to be first privately-funded launch services company flying satellites from Guiana Space Centre". www.isaraerospace.com. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  20. ↑ "Exotrail and Isar Aerospace sign multiple launch services agreement to break new ground in space mobility". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  21. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2022-11-03). "Exotrail signs launch agreement with Isar Aerospace". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  22. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2022-11-03). "Exotrail and Isar sign multi-launch agreement". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  23. ↑ "Isar Aerospace secures first active debris removal mission with Astroscale". Isar Aerospace.
  24. ↑ Cecco, Leyland (2026-07-06). "Canada to buy 12 hi-tech German submarines after bidding war". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  25. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-05-21). "What Does Isar Aerospace Have to Do With Canadian Submarines?". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  26. ↑ Berger, Eric (2026-05-22). "Rocket Report: Starship launch delayed, German launch company may aid Canada". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  27. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-05-28). "Isar Aerospace Signs Agreement to Launch from Future Canadian Spaceport". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  28. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-07-07). "Isar Aerospace Signs US$112.5M Deal for Dedicated Launch Site in Canada". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  29. ↑ "Launching from 2 continents: Germany's Isar Aerospace leases Canadian pad for $150 million". Space.com. 2026-07-10. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  30. ↑ "Isar Aerospace signs launch contract with Astroscale Japan". Isar Aerospace.
  31. ↑ "Isar Aerospace signs Multiple Launch Service Agreement with US-based SEOPS for Five Additional Launches". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
  32. ↑ "German rocket maker Isar Aerospace plans to more than double capacity in 2028". Reuters. 2026-09-15. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
  33. ↑ "«Nous sommes en train de monter en cadence» : l'Allemand Isar Aerospace décroche cinq nouveaux lancements - Capital.fr". www.capital.fr (in French). 2026-09-16. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
  34. ↑ Gorman, Douglas (2026-09-16). "SEOPS Books Five Launches on Isar's Spectrum Rocket". Payload. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
  35. ↑ Martin Smith (24 March 2025). "Launch Roundup: Alpha, Spectrum, Electron, and Falcon 9 set to fly". NasaSpaceFlight.
  36. ↑ Justin Davenport (30 March 2025). "Isar Aerospace set for second attempt at first orbital launch from continental Europe". NasaSpaceFlight.
  37. ↑ NSF (30 March 2025). Livestream: First test flight of Isar Aerospace. IKLQxe2MvpQ on YouTube – via Isar Aerospace.
  38. ↑ Schmitt, Tina. "Isar Aerospace lifts off successfully during first test flight of orbital launch vehicle". Isar Aerospace. No. 30 March, 2025.
  39. ↑ "First Test Flight Updates". Isar Aerospace. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  40. ↑ "Norway Postpones Rocket Launch Due to a Boat in the Space Center's Safety Zone". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  41. ↑ Mäkinen, Jari (9 April 2026). "Isar Aerospace tries again launching Spectrum rocket | SPACECONOMY". spaceconomy.fi. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  42. ↑ Wall, Mike (21 January 2026). "Private German company Isar Aerospace scrubs historic launch try from Norway". Space. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  43. ↑ Clark, Stephen (2026-06-15). "Key mission for Europe's commercial space enterprise scrubbed again". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  44. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (3 September 2026). "Isar Aerospace Could Attempt Second Spectrum Flight as Early as 4 September". European Spaceflight.
  45. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (4 September 2026). "Isar Aerospace Calls Off 4 September Spectrum Launch Attempt". European Spaceflight.
  46. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-01-16). "Updated: Second Isar Aerospace Spectrum Flight Set for 21 to 23 January". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
  47. ↑ Isar Aerospace reaches orbit on second Spectrum launch, SpaceNews, retrieved 5 September 2026.
  48. 1 2 Wall, Mike. "Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil". Space.com.
  49. ↑ "History for European spaceflight: Isar Aerospace reaches orbit and deploys payloads on second flight". Isar Aerospace.
  50. ↑ Kriening, Torsten (5 September 2026). "BREAKING: Isar Aerospace Launches Spectrum Flight 2 Today, First Mission With Payloads". SpaceWatch.GLOBAL.
  51. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew. "Isar Aerospace Could Launch Third Spectrum Rocket as Early as 26 November". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
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