Isar Aerospace

Isar Aerospace (Germany, founded 2018) is building Spectrum, a two-stage orbital rocket designed to carry small satellites to orbit. Spectrum is one of Europe’s prominent private launch projects, aiming to lift up to ~1,000 kg to low Earth orbit. The company has developed its own liquid-propellant engines and a lightweight carbon composite airframe to optimize performance. Isar has secured substantial funding and won launch contracts (including from the German government) as part of Europe’s push to foster domestic NewSpace launch providers. The first test launch of Spectrum is anticipated in the mid-2020s, which would mark a significant milestone for European commercial launch efforts. Isar Aerospace’s progress highlights the global nature of the smallsat launch market, with startups worldwide racing to fill the demand for dedicated launches.