Second Launch Attempt: Isar Aerospace – Spectrum Rocket [Live: 23.03.2026; 21:00 UTC ]

2 months ago (Edited)

Isar Aerospace, founded in 2018 in Munich, Germany, is developing the Spectrum rocket for small satellite launches. The vehicle is designed to deliver up to 700 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) or 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO).

Key features:

Two-stage rocket, 28 m tall, 2 m diameter
Powered by Aquila engines (9 on first stage, 1 on second stage, vacuum-optimized)
Propellants: liquid oxygen (LOX) and propane
Primarily in-house manufactured using carbon composites and advanced production methods
Launch site: Andøya Space Center, Norway
This mission ("Onward and Upward") is the second flight test following an initial attempt in 2025

Comparison table (approximate values from public sources):

Rocket	Height (m)	Diameter (m)	Payload to SSO (kg)	Estimated Cost per Launch
Spectrum	28	2	700	~$12 million
Firefly Alpha	29	1.8	630	~$15–18 million
Electron (Rocket Lab)	18	1.2	200–300	~$8 million

Payload: Five CubeSats to SSO + one attached experiment (part of ESA's Boost! programme).

The launch will mark an attempt toward the first orbital flight by a Western European-developed rocket from Western European territory.

First Attempt: Mission Going Full Spectrum

Livestream expected via Isar Aerospace channels (weather and technical status permitting).

Livestream

NASASpaceflight: Isar Aerospace Launches the "Onward and Upward" Mission

Content about Isar Aerospace

Moritz Vieth (Senkrechstarter) gets a walkaround in Isar Aerospace's factory (German only): ISAR Aerospace Spectrum Rakete: Funktion, Fertigung und wo sie besser ist als das SpaceX Starship
Moritz Vieht (Senkrechtstarter) gets a look at the Aquila engine prototype (German only): Raketentriebwerk: Mo am ISAR Aerospace Engine Demonstrator | Was ist was? Wofür ist es gut?
Moritz Vieth (Senkrechtstarter) interviews founder and CEO of Isar Aerospace, Daniel Metzler (German only): Deutsche Rakete: Isar Aerospace Interview mit Gründer und Raketen CEO Daniel Metzler
Moritz Vieth (Senkrechtstarter) interviews Marco Stemer (VP Launch Vehicle) (German only): Isar Aerospace: technologisch schneller & besser entwickeln als der Oldspace, Interview Marco Stemer

Useful links to stay up to date on launches:

Spaceflightnow.com: Launch Schedule

Next Spaceflight: Launches

NASA Spaceflight nasaspacefight.com

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space rocket technology satellite isar aerospace munich germany inleo leofinance

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