Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

image via Space.com

September 5, 2026, 2:00 PM

• •Spectrum launched from Andøya Space Center in northern Norway at 4:12 p.m. EDT on Sept. 5.
• •The rocket achieved an initial elliptical orbit and later carried out a circularization burn before payload deployment.
• •The mission deployed five cubesats and one non-deployable scientific experiment.
• •Spectrum's first flight in March 2025 failed less than a minute after liftoff due to issues including an unintended vent valve opening and loss of attitude control.
• •Isar says Spectrum can carry about 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit and that its facility near Munich can produce more than 30 rockets per year.

Isar Aerospace launched its two-stage Spectrum rocket from Andøya Space Center in Norway on Sept. 5 and reached orbit a little more than seven minutes after liftoff. The flight marked the first time a rocket reached orbit from Western European soil. Spectrum had failed on its debut mission in March 2025, and subsequent launch attempts were delayed by hardware issues, weather and other disruptions. On this second mission, the rocket later performed the required burn and deployed five cubesats plus one non-deployable scientific experiment, completing the mission objectives.

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