Isar Aerospace makes fourth attempt for second test flight of Spectrum rocket

The first test flight in the spring of last year ended after 30 seconds with a crash into the sea. The Spectrum rocket had launched in the spring of last year for its first test flight and crashed into the sea after 30 seconds. The start-up has since been working on addressing the insights gained from the incident.

A third attempt in April was postponed because of 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 safety incidents

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

Currently, the vast majority of European satellites are launched into orbit by SpaceX rockets, as there is no comparable rocket from European production to date. Isar Aerospace therefore plans to produce 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 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 developing a more independent European launch capacity in low Earth orbit.

According to the company, the rocket is around 28 meters tall and can carry 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.