Isar Aerospace Launches First Payload Mission Tonight
Isar Aerospace will launch its Spectrum rocket's second flight tonight from Norway, carrying six payloads for the first time as part of its qualification
Isar Aerospace is targeting a launch tonight for the second flight of its Spectrum rocket, the vehicle's first mission to carry customer payloads. The launch window opens at 20:00 UTC from the Andøya Space complex in Norway, with a live stream beginning at 21:00 CEST.
The mission, named "Onward and Upward," follows extensive testing after the vehicle's inaugural flight. According to the company, the launch attempt remains subject to final weather, safety, and range clearances. This flight serves a dual purpose as Spectrum's qualification mission and its debut as a payload carrier.
Payload Manifest
Six payloads are manifested on the flight, comprising five CubeSats and one experiment. The payloads were selected through the German Space Agency at DLR's first Microlauncher Competition, which Isar Aerospace won. The flight is supported under the European Space Agency's Boost! Programme.
The manifest is not commercial. Spacewatch.global reports it represents a European institutional demand signal, providing a flight opportunity for universities and small companies that would otherwise struggle to find a ride to orbit.
The payloads are:
| Payload Name | Type | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| CyBEEsat | CubeSat | TU Berlin |
| TriSat-S | CubeSat | University of Maribor / SkyLabs |
| FramSat-1 | CubeSat | NTNU |
| SpaceTeamSat1 | CubeSat | TU Wien Space Team |
| Platform 6 | CubeSat | EnduroSat |
| Let It Go | Experiment | Dcubed |
Vehicle and Launch Site
The Spectrum vehicle is 28 metres long with a two-metre diameter, constructed from carbon composites. It uses liquid oxygen and liquid propane as propellants. Its first stage is powered by nine Aquila engines, each producing 75 kN of thrust, while the second stage uses a single Aquila vacuum engine rated at 95 kN.
Isar Aerospace states the rocket is capable of delivering 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit and 700 kg to sun-synchronous orbit. The company holds exclusive access to the first launch complex at Andøya Space, a facility built to its specifications. Andøya became operational in late 2023 and is noted as the first orbital spaceport on the European mainland.
Production Scale-Up
Alongside the launch campaign, Isar Aerospace confirmed it is beginning production at its new headquarters, which has a capacity for up to 40 rockets per year. The company also stated that groundwork has started on its planned launch pad in Canada.
The annual production target of 40 vehicles is framed as a serial-production goal rather than a demonstration. Spacewatch.global suggests this figure addresses a core constraint in European launch: not merely whether a rocket can reach orbit, but whether enough can be built to be commercially and strategically significant.
CEO and Co-Founder Daniel Metzler linked the mission to broader industry challenges. "Access to space remains one of the biggest constraints for the space industry and national security architecture," he said. "We have built the infrastructure and capabilities to change that."
For the immediate flight, his objective was more measured. Metzler stated the goal is to "learn as much as we can, go as far as we can." The company, founded in 2018 and headquartered near Munich, employs over 400 people across five locations.
