Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum reached orbit after lifting off from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport on September 5. The company announced that its payloads had been deployed as planned. Following a first attempt that lasted less than a minute in March 2025, this flight carried commercial and educational CubeSats and a scientific experiment. It met the European Space Agency’s European Launcher Challenge requirement for an orbital launch by 2027.
Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum lifted off from Andøya Spaceport in Norway at 22.12 Central European Summer Time on September 5. It reached an elliptical orbit a little over seven minutes later. This was Spectrum’s second flight; the first attempt, in March 2025, ended less than a minute after liftoff. On this flight, the upper stage performed a circularization burn after initial orbital insertion and before releasing its satellites.[1], [2]
The mission carried commercial and educational CubeSats alongside a scientific experiment intended to test new technologies in orbit. The experiment was designed to remain attached to the vehicle. Isar announced successful payload deployment about two hours after launch. Spectrum stands 28 metres tall, measures 2 metres across and uses 10 engines. It is designed to carry up to 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit.[1], [2]
The European Space Agency, ESA, said the flight fulfilled the first milestone met under its European Launcher Challenge. The challenge required an orbital launch by 2027. Isar Aerospace, founded eight years ago, had received support through ESA’s Business Incubation Centre and Boost! programme. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher described the launch from Andøya as historic.[1]
