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Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket reaches orbit from Norway

techSep 5, 202621455

German startup Isar Aerospace successfully launched its Spectrum rocket from Andøya Spaceport in Norway on its second flight and reached orbit, declaring "We’re in orbit" in a company statement. The mission, named Onward and Upward, carried five CubeSats and one hosted payload manifested through ESA’s Boost! program. Isar reported the second stage placed the payloads into a preliminary 180 x 500 kilometer orbit. The company and French outlet L’Express described the flight as the first time a privately developed rocket reached orbit from continental Europe. European institutions including the European Commission noted the launch as strengthening Europe’s autonomous access to space. Isar completed the launch after a previous failed attempt, and the successful second flight now puts the Spectrum vehicle and Andøya launch complex into operational use for commercial payloads.

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