Space travel: Isar Aerospace plans to fly into space on Thursday
Isar Aerospace has received launch approval for its Spectrum rocket. The maiden flight is due to take place this week.
Spectrum rocket from Isar Aerospace on the launch pad
(Image: Isar Aerospace)
Spectrum is allowed to fly: The German space company Isar Aerospace has received approval for the first launch.
The rocket is allowed to take off from Andøya Spaceport on the island of the same name in the north of the country, according to the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority Luftfartstilsynet. The launch permit is valid for the period from March 20 to 31, 2025, and Isar Aerospace says it is planning the launch on March 20.
The first launch of the Spectrum will also be the first flight of an orbital launch vehicle from continental Europe. For Luftfartstilsynet, this is "a historic milestone for the space industry in Norway".
Europe to regain access to space
"We are approaching the most important moment of our journey so far," said Daniel Metzler, CEO and founder of the company. "In the current geopolitical situation, our first test flight is about much more than just a rocket launch: space is one of the most important platforms for our security, our resilience and our technological progress." With the first flight of the rocket, the company wants to contribute to Europe regaining "much-needed, independent and competitive access to space."
The two-stage Spectrum rocket is 28 meters high and has a diameter of 2 meters. The Munich-based company developed it completely in-house, including the Aquila engines.
The rocket will be able to carry 1000 kilograms of payload into a low earth orbit (LEO) or 700 kilograms into a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). The first stage has nine engines, the second has one. Isar Aerospace uses liquid oxygen and propane as fuel.
Isar Aerospace carried out a test of the first stage engine in mid-February. The second-stage engine was successfully ignited at the end of last year.
400 million euros raised
Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 by three graduates of the Technical University of Munich. The company has raised 400 million euros in several rounds of financing, making it the best-funded German aerospace start-up.
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In addition to Isar Aerospace, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), HyImpulse and the Gaia Aerospace association are also developing rockets in Germany. RFA wants to launch from the SaxaVord rocket launch site on the Shetland Islands. However, the RFA One rocket exploded last August during engine testing.
(wpl)
