Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket becomes first private vehicle to reach orbit from Western European soil

German startup Isar Aerospace successfully launched its Spectrum rocket from Andøya Space Center in Norway, reaching orbit for the first time. The milestone came on Spectrum’s second flight after a failed debut in March 2025, when an anomaly caused the rocket to crash shortly after liftoff.

The launch marks a major step for Europe’s emerging commercial launch sector, which has sought more independent access to space. If Isar can repeat the achievement reliably, it could help reduce European dependence on non-European rockets for small satellite missions.