Isar Aerospace launches first commercial rocket to orbit from Europe
German startup Isar Aerospace successfully deployed its Spectrum rocket carrying five satellites from the Andøya Spaceport, ending a 2017 launch failure at the same site.
A German startup successfully launched the first commercial rocket to reach orbit from continental Europe on Sunday. Isar Aerospace sent its uncrewed Spectrum rocket, blasting off from the Andøya Spaceport in Arctic Norway, into space carrying five small satellites and an in-flight technology experiment. The mission marks a significant milestone for European efforts to secure independent access to satellite launch capabilities. Daniel Metzler, co-founder and CEO of Isar Aerospace, told reporters that launch capability remains the biggest bottleneck in the entire industry. This success follows a 2017 attempt by the same company at the location which resulted in a fiery explosion shortly after takeoff. Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, called the event 'the beginning of a new era' in a statement following the successful flight. The EU defence and space commissioner described the achievement as a major boost to Europe's independent access to space. The mission is seen as a breakthrough for regions seeking footholds in the growing global market for satellite launches as international dynamics shift.
