Isar Makes A Splash With First Test Flight of Spectrum

On March 30th at 12:30 PM CEST (9:30 AM CEST, or 6:30 AM CST.) Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket lifted off on it's inaugural test flight from Andøya Spaceport in Norway, becoming the first orbital class rocket to launch from European soil. Approximately 18 seconds into flight the rocket appeared to lose thrust vector control and flipped upside down, eventually careening into the water near the launch site.

Shortly after Spectrum landed back near the launch pad, the Andøya Spaceport quickly activated its crisis management operations. The launch site is currently collaborating with the emergency services, and Isar Aerospace to gain an overview of the aftermath. Isar states that all personnel remained safe during the flight test, along with the following:

"The launch vehicle was terminated after approx. 30 seconds in flight, and the vehicle fell directly into the sea. The launch pad seems to be intact. With this test flight, we were able to successfully gather valuable data and experience for future missions."

Isar Aerospace's Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Metzler was quick to celebrate the launch, sharing:

"WHAT A FLIGHT! On our first flight today we got to a clean liftoff, 30sec of flight, and didn't blow up the pad in the meantime." – "Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success. We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System."

Despite the short flight, European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher congratulated the company, stating:

"Success to get off the pad, and lots of data already obtained. I am sure Isar Aerospace will learn a lot. Rocket launch is hard. Never give up, move forward with even more energy!"

Isar Aerospace is now working towards follow-up flights of Spectrum, which will hopefully reach a further stage of flight. At least two more vehicles are in production.

Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket is a two stage Small Satellite Launch Vehicle capable of delivering up to 1,000kg/1 Metric Ton (2,204lbs) of payload to Low Earth Orbit or 700kg (1,543lbs) to a Sun Synchronous Orbit. Spectrum is wider than other launch vehicles of it's class with a diameter of 2 meters (6.5 feet), but with a height of 28m (91.8ft) it is just a meter shorter than Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket.

Unlike most liquid fueled rockets, which use either Kerosine, liquid Methane, or liquid Hydrogen, Spectrum uses liquid Propane to fuel its 9 first stage engines it's nd single second stage engine. Spectrum's second stage is also capable of re-igniting it's engine once in orbit to deliver multiple payloads to their precise destinations.

While Spectrum is not currently reusable, it is worth noting that Isar Aerospace owns a unique patent for a reusable first stage that would comprise a drogue chute to slow and stabilize the stage on descent and a pilot parachute to help with the deployment of an inflatable blimp that would presumably deliver the first stage to a recovery area.

Founded in 2018, Isar Aerospace is based out of Munich, Germany. The company, named after the Isar river that flows through Munich has a stated mission of "Engineering the future of space flight."

"Launching is the first step to space. By enabling access to space, we contribute to humanity’s progress and our planet’s sustainable technological and economic development." -Isar's website

Isar currently has launch contracts with the Norwegian Space Agency, the European Space Agency, Airbus Defense and Space, ElevationSpace, Spaceflight Inc, D-Orbit, Exotrail, and EnduroSat, with more to come.

The Andøya Spaceport, established in 2018 before opening in 2023, is located on Andøya Island in Norway. Andøya is located 300km (186mi) within the Arctic Circle and is the northernmost island of the Vesterålen archipelago. Before it was a spaceport, it was established as Andøya Rocket Range in 1962. Over a thousand sub-orbital and sounding rockets have launched from Andøya, but Spectrum is the first orbital class rocket to launch from the island in addition to being the first orbital rocket launched from Europe.