Isar Aerospace Spectrum rocket reaches orbit, eyes 2028 launch from Canada

Isar Aerospace, the German launch services company that builds the Spectrum launch vehicle, achieved a major company and European milestone on Saturday when it reached orbit successfully on its second flight and deployed five satellites. It's the first time a commercial company has reached orbit from Western European soil. The two-stage rocket lifted off from Andøya Space in northern Norway just after 10 p.m. local time. Europe's only other operational orbital rockets (not including Russia's), Ariane 6 and Vega C, are run by Arianespace and fly from French Guiana in South America. Spectrum's first flight failed shortly after liftoff in March 2025, and this second flight went through several scrubbed launches this year, including a leaking pressure vessel in the spring, before Saturday's success. Orbit Achieved. Payload Deployed.Mission 'Onward and Upward' delivered our first customer satellites to orbit, achieving major milestones:✅ MaxQ✅ Stage separation✅ Stage 2 engine ignition✅ Fairing separation✅ ORBIT ✅ Second engine cutoff and transfer orbit injection… pic.twitter.com/gEa99hJyAf