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Isar rocket puts five satellites in orbit
Isar Aerospace’s second Spectrum flight made the first commercial orbital launch from continental Europe.
What happened
Isar Aerospace’s uncrewed Spectrum rocket reached orbit after lifting off from Andøya Spaceport in Arctic Norway on Saturday. It carried five small scientific satellites and one flight experiment. The mission was the German company’s second launch and the first commercial rocket from continental Europe to place satellites in orbit.
Numbers
- 5 satellitesScientific satellites carried by Spectrum — Plus one flight experiment
- 28 metresHeight of the Spectrum rocket
- 18 monthsSince the unsuccessful first attempt
Questions
- Why did the video feed stop?
- The ground link ended after Spectrum moved beyond its transmission range; later accounts and company statements confirmed the orbital result.
- How did this differ from its first flight?
- The first attempt ended shortly after liftoff when the rocket fell; this flight separated its first stage and delivered its payloads.
- Why does the launch matter to Europe?
- European governments and companies want domestic launch options for commercial missions and national security, rather than relying solely on providers elsewhere.
- What is Isar planning now?
- Isar plans to expand satellite deployments, while rockets three through seven are already in production at its German factory.
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The catch
The reports do not give orbital parameters or each satellite’s final deployment details.