The mission, while short, achieved all intended objectives including a clean liftoff and successful activation of the vehicle’s Flight Termination System. The rocket was intentionally brought down into the sea in a controlled manner, ensuring full safety for all personnel.
“This test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success,” said Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-founder of Isar Aerospace. “We demonstrated that we can not only design and build but also launch rockets.”
The successful first test flight from Norwegian soil for @isaraerospace‘s launch vehicle Spectrum marks a significant milestone for both Isar Aerospace and Andøya Spaceport. Big thanks to @NFdep, NCAA, @Romsenteret and @Forsvaret_no
Video Andøya Spaceport and Montevideo Tromsø pic.twitter.com/ojaMnghE1a
— Andøya Space (@AndoyaSpace) March 30, 2025
Metzler highlighted the importance of this milestone for Europe’s space ambitions and the global satellite market. “Today, we laid the foundation to cater to the rising global demand for flexible satellite launch services,” he added.
The data collected during the flight is now being analysed to inform improvements for future missions. The launch pad remained intact, and further flight tests are already in preparation.
Spectrum launch vehicles #2 and #3 are currently in production, benefiting from Isar Aerospace’s vertically integrated and automated manufacturing process. At its new headquarters near Munich, the company plans to produce up to 40 launch vehicles per year.
This production capacity, combined with rapid iteration based on test data, positions Isar Aerospace to meet growing market demand efficiently. “With our services, we will be able to serve customers from around the world and help Europe solve a major blind spot in its security architecture: access to space,” said Metzler.
Chairman and former SpaceX executive Bulent Altan praised the achievement, noting the strength of the company’s clean-sheet design. “This test flight is a major success for Isar Aerospace, and the space industry more broadly,” he said.
Altan expressed strong confidence in the team’s path forward, stating: “With a payload capacity of 1,000 kg, Isar Aerospace is proving to be a real solution for most of the global market demand for flexible and cost-efficient launch services.”
The launch was enabled through close cooperation with Norway, marking a significant step for European space infrastructure. Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority became the first in Europe to issue a Launch Operator License for a test flight of this kind.
“Takk, Norge, Andøya Spaceport, and the Andøya community for being our trusted partners on this journey,” said Metzler, acknowledging the support from Norwegian institutions and local stakeholders.
With this first successful flight, Isar Aerospace has positioned itself as a key player in the evolving global space sector. The company’s next goal is to refine its technology and return to the launch pad in the near future.
