Isar Aerospace is a German aerospace manufacturer and launch service provider founded in 2018. They are developing "Spectrum," a two-stage, liquid-fueled rocket designed to launch small to medium-sized satellites (up to 1,000 kg) into low Earth orbit. Isar Aerospace operates launch sites in Andøya, Norway and intends to launch from Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana and has secured contracts with customers like Airbus Defence and Space and the Norwegian Space Agency. The company's key investors include the NATO Innovation Fund, Earlybird, Airbus Ventures, and Lakestar.
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Isar Aerospace has signed a launch contract with R-Space to carry the first two GreenBox satellites into orbit aboard the Spectrum rocket.
The new launch service contract formalizes the earlier partnership between Isar Aerospace and R-Space.
Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 and has grown to over 400 employees from more than 50 nations.
The launch vehicles used by Isar Aerospace are developed, manufactured, and tested almost entirely in-house.
Isar Aerospace is headquartered near Munich, Germany.
The launch contract between Isar Aerospace and R-Space includes provisions for additional flights in 2026 and 2027.
The cooperation between Isar Aerospace and R-Space is part of the ESA Marketplace initiative under the ScaleUp program.
The Launch Availability page of SpaceLaunch lists the Pegasus rocket, which has not flown since June 2021, along with Isar Aerospace, Latitude, and PLD Space.
Isar Aerospace, Rocket Factory Augsburg, Latitude, and PLD Space have signed an initial feasibility agreement to operate their rockets from the facility for a minimum of ten years.
Contracts between ESA and Isar Aerospace have secured two missions with the Spectrum launch vehicle from the Andøya Space Center in Norway.
The Vega-C rocket has successfully flown, while Isar Aerospace's Spectrum has completed only one test flight, which ended in a crash shortly after launch.
On August 27, 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) awarded launch service contracts for three launches to Avio and two launches to Isar Aerospace as part of its Flight Ticket Initiative.
Isar Aerospace will perform its two launches from the Andøya Space Port in Norway.
ESA selected five companies to advance in the European Launcher Challenge on July 7, 2025: Isar Aerospace, MaiaSpace, Orbex, PLD Space, and Rocket Factory Augsburg.
Isar Aerospace raised an additional €150 million from Eldridge Industries to scale up production of Spectrum with the near-term goal of a second Spectrum test flight before the end of the year.
Isar Aerospace attempted an inaugural orbital flight of its Spectrum rocket from Norway in March 2025 and suffered a loss of attitude control about 30 seconds after liftoff, resulting in the rocket falling into adjacent waters.
Isar Aerospace raised an additional €150 million from US investor Eldridge Industries to scale up production of Spectrum with a near-term goal of a second Spectrum test flight before the end of 2025.
ESA selected five companies to advance on July 7: Isar Aerospace, MaiaSpace, Orbex, PLD Space, and Rocket Factory Augsburg.
Isar Aerospace attempted an orbital launch of its Spectrum rocket from Norway in March and suffered a loss of attitude control about 30 seconds after liftoff, with the rocket falling into nearby waters.
Isar Aerospace is part of a class of European startups aiming to reach orbit with launch vehicles in the coming years.