Isar Aerospace's Spectrum Rocket Ready for Launch

Isar Aerospace has announced the successful testing of the engines for its Spectrum rocket, marking a significant step towards its inaugural launch.

The engine test took place at the Andøya Spaceport in Norway on February 14, as confirmed by the Munich-based company. This test involved igniting the first stage engines of the two-stage rocket.

The second stage engine had previously been tested successfully at the end of last year. The Spectrum rocket is now awaiting approval from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority to proceed with its launch from the Andøya Spaceport, located north of the Arctic Circle.

According to the company's CEO and founder, progress has been made, and they are merely waiting for the necessary permissions. He emphasized that facilitating access to space from the European mainland is crucial for ensuring sovereignty and resilience in the sector.

The Spectrum rocket is designed to reach a height of 28 meters with a diameter of 2 meters. It has the capability to deliver payloads of up to 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit (LEO) or 700 kilograms to a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). The first stage is equipped with nine engines, while the second stage has a single engine, using liquid oxygen and propane as propellants.

All components of the rocket, including the Aquila engines, have been developed in-house by Isar Aerospace. This control over the entire value chain grants the company maximum flexibility and independence, as noted by the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder.

Founded in 2018 by three graduates from the Technical University of Munich, Isar Aerospace has successfully raised 400 million euros through various funding rounds, making it the best-funded space startup in Germany.

In addition to Isar Aerospace, other companies in Germany, such as Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and HyImpulse, along with the association Gaia Aerospace, are also developing rockets. RFA plans to launch from the SaxaVord spaceport in the Shetland Islands; however, they faced setbacks when their RFA One rocket exploded during a recent engine test.