Isar Aerospace Successfully Completes Spectrum Rocket Testing; Awaiting First Launch License

European satellite launch service provider Isar Aerospace has achieved a key milestone in its journey to orbital access, successfully completing the final static fire test of Stage 1 for its Spectrum launch vehicle.

This nine-engine test fire marks the last major technical hurdle before the maiden flight of the rocket from Andøya Spaceport in Norway. The first test flight will proceed once the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) grants the necessary launch license.

Spectrum's Final Static Fire Test

On 14 February 2025, Isar Aerospace executed a 30-second integrated nine-engine static fire test for Spectrum’s first stage, confirming the vehicle’s readiness for flight. This follows the successful static fire test of Stage 2 in Q3 2024, completing the full qualification process for the rocket.

"We are almost ready for the test flight. All we need is the license. By enabling space access from mainland Europe, we provide a critical resource for ensuring sovereignty and resilience. I am extremely proud of our international team from over 50 nations. Reaching this milestone is a huge success in itself. And while Spectrum is ready for its first test flight, launch vehicles for flights two and three are already in production." - Daniel Metzler, CEO & Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace

Isar Aerospace’s Vision

Isar Aerospace has positioned itself as a key player in Europe’s private space industry, taking a vertically integrated approach to rocket manufacturing. The company oversees the entire value chain of the Spectrum launch vehicle, encompassing design, production, testing, and launch operations.

"Owning the entire value chain of ‘Spectrum’ gives us maximum flexibility and independence. We develop, build, and test almost the entire launch vehicle in-house, including our ‘Aquila’ engines. The flight will be the first integrated test of tens of thousands of components. Regardless of how far we get, this first test flight will hopefully generate an enormous amount of data and experience which we can apply to future missions." - Josef Fleischmann, CTO & Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace

Final Preparations for Historic European Spaceflight

The Spectrum rocket’s maiden flight will be a historic event for Europe, marking the first launch of an orbital-class rocket from continental Europe.

Isar Aerospace has systematically completed its pre-flight milestones, including:

• Full testing and acceptance of its in-house developed Aquila engines

• Qualification of the payload fairing

• Successful static fire tests of both rocket stages

With technical milestones completed, the only remaining step is regulatory approval. The NCAA is currently reviewing the launch license application, and the exact launch period will be determined as part of this process.

About Isar Aerospace

Founded in 2018, Isar Aerospace is a Munich-based European space company focused on developing, manufacturing, and launching rockets to transport small and medium-sized satellites into orbit. The company’s mission is to enable sovereign European space access, reducing reliance on foreign launch providers.

With over 400 employees across five international locations and over €400 million in investment backing, Isar Aerospace is driving innovation through full vertical integration. The company’s flagship Spectrum rocket is designed for cost-effective satellite constellation deployment, playing a crucial role in the commercial and institutional space market.