Isar Aerospace attempts fourth effort for second test flight of Spectrum rocket

A third attempt in April was postponed due to a leaking pressure vessel. In addition, a launch in March was interrupted by a Norwegian fisherman whose boat had not left the safety zone off the island in time. An originally planned second launch in January had previously been postponed due to a defective valve.

Postponements and security lapses

Isar Aerospace had set itself the goal of making the rocket suitable for commercial spaceflight faster than the company controlled by Elon Musk, SpaceX, which had required four test flights. With domestic production, the company also wants to reduce Europe's dependence on US launch providers. Isar Aerospace wants to reduce technological dependence on the USA in this regard.

Currently, the large majority of European satellites are brought into orbit by SpaceX rockets, as there is so far no comparable rocket from European production. Isar Aerospace is therefore planning the production of up to 40 rockets per year to close this gap.

Strategic goals: Independence from the USA

The company is headquartered in Ottobrunn near Munich. According to its own statements, it is the first European start-up to develop a small rocket for commercial orbital missions. With the current test flight, Isar Aerospace primarily wants to test the flight sequence, the engines, and the data transmission throughout the entire flight.

Should the test be successful, the company could establish series production in the coming years and accept initial commercial orders. Industry observers see the project as a central building block for the development of a more independent European launch capacity in low Earth orbit.

According to the company, the rocket is approximately 28 meters tall and can transport payloads of up to one ton into a low Earth orbit. The launch takes place from a specially constructed launch pad on the northern coast of the island of Andøya, where Norway is building a spaceport together with private operators.