Mission Updates

Munich, Andøya, 9 September 2026 – Mission 'Onward and Upward' marked a milestone for European commercial spaceflight. On just the second flight of Isar Aerospace's launch vehicle Spectrum, all customer payloads were successfully released in orbit. Most of the satellites have already established contact and begun on-orbit operations. 

The mission carried five CubeSats from TU Berlin, the University of Maribor, EnduroSat, NTNU and the TU Wien Space Team, as well as a technology demonstration from Dcubed, which successfully completed its mission objectives. 

The launch vehicle’s first stage completed a controlled descent into a designated corridor in the Norwegian Sea.  

Andøya, 5 September 2026 – Today, Isar Aerospace became the first commercial space company from Europe to successfully deliver satellites into orbit, on what was only its second flight. Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ lifted off from Isar Aerospace’s dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space in Norway at 10:12 pm CEST, deploying payloads in orbit. “Today, Isar Aerospace opened space from Continental Europe. Launch continues to be the largest bottleneck for the global space industry and from today on, there is a true alternative for commercial and institutional customers”, said Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace. Isar Aerospace is working with the customers to confirm the satellite status.

Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace, said: “We achieved within a few years what had taken the European space industry decades before. Europe now has sovereign access to space.  We have entered into a new chapter for European spaceflight. I am incredibly proud of our team, that has made this success story from Europe possible. We will now focus on rapidly scaling launch vehicle production, deliver on our order pipeline, and meet surging global demand.”

Isar Aerospace’s qualification flight broke several records in European commercial spaceflight: The vehicle successfully transited MaxQ, completed MECO and stage separation, and then ignited second stage as planned. It crossed the Kármán line at an altitude of 100 kilometers and jettisoned the payload fairing before reaching orbital velocity. After completing circularization burn, spacecraft separation was completed successfully.

Following replacements and acceptance testing at component level, together with subsequent stage tests and a Wet Dress Rehearsal, Isar Aerospace has returned to the launch pad for Flight 2. The company is targeting NET 5 September to launch its qualification flight from the company’s dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space. 

The launch window opens at 8pm UTC; 10pm CEST, subject to weather, safety and range clearance.

Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace, said: “Access to space remains one of the biggest constraints for the space industry and national security architecture. We have built the infrastructure and capabilities to change that. As we prepare for our qualification flight, our goal remains clear: learn as much as we can, go as far as we can.” 

Isar Aerospace is targeting NET 15 June to launch Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ during the available launch window, which opens at 8pm UTC; 10pm CEST. The final date remains subject to weather, safety and range availability.

Mission objective: operational qualification

Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ is Isar Aerospace’s second flight and qualification mission for the Spectrum launch vehicle. The mission carries five CubeSats and one experiment and aims to validate the vehicle’s critical systems under operational conditions. The mission is supported by ESA’s Boost! Programme.

Isar Aerospace is standing down from today’s launch attempt to evaluate a leak in a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV).

The teams are assessing and will determine next steps.

Isar Aerospace is targeting NET 9 April to launch Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ during the available launch window, which opens at 8pm UTC; 10pm CEST. The final date remains subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure.  

The second flight and qualification mission of Isar Aerospace’s ‘Spectrum’ launch vehicle will be broadcast live on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/Ss1DUqLjecc 

The livestream will start at approximately:  

Yesterday, Isar Aerospace was set to launch its qualification flight for Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ from Andøya Space during a 15 minute launch window. While all operations and check-outs were nominal throughout the countdown, Isar Aerospace was informed about an unauthorized vessel intruding the designated danger zone at sea. Shortly before the launch system entered final autosequence, the launch was placed on hold for 15 minutes. The range could only be declared clear at 21:18, and the countdown resumed.

As a result of the delay, the vehicle encountered an increase in engine fuel temperature, which could not be addressed within the shortened countdown and hence forced the abort of the mission.

The launch of our qualification flight has been aborted during autosequence. After a hold in countdown due to a range violation of the danger area by an unauthorized boat, the countdown reset exceeded our launch window.

Mission 'Onward and Upward' is on track for launch at NET 9pm CET today, subject to weather, safety and range clearance. Propellant loading has started and the teams continue to monitor all systems and prepare for launch. 

Follow the livestream here: https://youtube.com/live/MsbZj8PxmUk 

The broadcast starts at: 

We are back on the pad at Andøya Space with our launch vehicle ‘Spectrum’ getting ready for Mission ‘Onward and Upward’. The launch window opens not earlier than 25 March, 9pm CET, subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure. 

Follow along for updates and watch the livestream starting at T-1h (8:00pm CET, 7:00pm UTC, 2:00pm ET): 

Andøya, 23 March 2026 – The launch of mission ‘Onward and Upward’ is moved to NET 25 March due to ongoing strong winds in the launch area. The launch window opens at 9pm CET, subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure.

Follow the launch live on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/MsbZj8PxmUk

The livestream will start at approximately: 

Isar Aerospace is targeting NET 23 March to launch mission ‘Onward and Upward’ during the available launch window, which opens at 9pm CET. This adjustment is due to unfavorable weather conditions in the launch area in the coming days. The final date remains subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure. Our team is continuing final preparations, and we’ll keep monitoring conditions closely as we approach the new launch window.

The second flight and qualification mission of Isar Aerospace’s ‘Spectrum’ launch vehicle will be broadcast live on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/MsbZj8PxmUk

The livestream will start at approximately: 

After resolving the pressurization valve issue identified during the first launch attempt, Isar Aerospace is announcing that a new launch window for Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ will open no earlier than 19 March from the company’s dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space, subject to weather and range availability.

Following the launch attempt on Wednesday, 21 January, which was scrubbed to address an issue with a pressurization valve, we are taking additional time to complete targeted checks and preparations before the next launch attempt.

We are standing down from today's launch attempt to address an issue with a pressurization valve. The teams are currently assessing the next possible launch opportunities and a new target date will be announced shortly.

The second flight and qualification mission of Isar Aerospace's ‘Spectrum’ launch vehicle will be broadcast live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/MsbZj8PxmUk 

The livestream will start at approximately: 

• T-01h00min 

• 8:00pm CET 

• 7:00pm UTC 

• 2:00pm ET

As Isar Aerospace approaches its second flight and qualification mission, the teams have successfully integrated the payloads for Mission ‘Onward and Upward’.

Five CubeSats and one experiment will be the first payloads carried by Isar Aerospace’s in-house developed launch vehicle ‘Spectrum’.

Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ is supported by ESA’s Boost! program. Through Boost! Isar Aerospace won the first Microlauncher Competition of the German Space Agency at DLR, which resulted in the selection of the payloads we are carrying on board of this flight.

Space company Isar Aerospace is approaching its second flight and qualification mission from the company’s dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space in Norway, further advancing Europe’s sovereign space capability. The launch is targeted for not earlier than 21 January, with the launch window opening at 09:00 pm CET, subject to weather, safety, and range clearance. 

“This qualification flight is a deliberate step toward delivering sovereign access to space for Europe and allied nations. Just ten months after proving that launch vehicles can be designed, built, and launched from continental European soil, we’re ready to fly again. Europe’s immediate need for space access is clear. Rapid iteration is essential to developing space capabilities precisely when they are required,” said Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co‑founder of Isar Aerospace.  

Mission objective: operational qualification 

Andøya, 22 December 2025 – Less than nine months after Spectrum’s first test flight, Isar Aerospace has completed stage testing and is preparing for its second launch from the company’s dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space in Norway. Both of the vehicle’s stages passed 30-second integrated static fire tests, validating vehicle readiness for final integration and launch operations. 

“We are building more than rockets, we are building the capability for nations to access and sustain space on their own terms,” said Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co‑founder of Isar Aerospace. “Rapid iteration is how you win in this domain. Being back on the pad less than nine months after our first test flight is proof that we can operate at the speed the world now demands.” 

Following the first test flight of Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle ‘Spectrum’ on 30 March 2025 from Andøya Spaceport in Norway, the company has completed a thorough investigation, further underscoring its commitment to safety.

Approximately 30 seconds into flight, ‘Spectrum’ received a termination order, resulting in an unpowered descent into the sea. The findings confirm that the flight safety system performed nominally throughout this phase of flight. At no stage did the launch pose a risk to public safety.

A comprehensive investigation was completed within two months of the launch. The findings identified an unintended opening of the vent valve and a loss of attitude control at the start of the roll maneuver as the initiating events that led to the in-flight failure. The investigation has been reviewed with the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).