Isar Aerospace
German maker of the Spectrum small-lift rocket
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Ottobrunn, Germany
Overview
Isar Aerospace is a German launch company founded in 2018 in Ottobrunn, near Munich, by Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann and Markus Brandl. It emerged from the Technical University of Munich's WARR student rocketry group and has grown into one of Europe's most heavily funded private launch startups.
The company develops Spectrum, a two-stage, liquid-fuelled small-lift orbital rocket designed to carry up to 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit (around 700 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit). Spectrum is built in-house and launches from a dedicated complex at Andoya Spaceport in Norway.
Spectrum made its maiden flight on 30 March 2025, lifting off successfully before being commanded to terminate about 30 seconds in after losing attitude control, falling into the sea without reaching orbit. As of 2026 Isar Aerospace remains active, well-funded after a 270m euro Series D round, and is preparing its second, qualification flight from Andoya.
Timeline
- 2018
Company founded
Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann and Markus Brandl found Isar Aerospace in Ottobrunn, near Munich, with roots in TU Munich's WARR rocketry group.
- 2021
Andoya launch contract
Isar Aerospace secured exclusive access to a dedicated launch pad at Andoya Spaceport in northern Norway for its Spectrum rocket.
- Mar 2025
Spectrum maiden flight
Spectrum lifted off from Andoya on 30 March 2025 but was terminated about 30 seconds after launch following loss of control, falling into the sea without reaching orbit.
- Jun 2026
270m euro Series D round
Isar Aerospace raised a 270 million euro Series D to scale launch operations as it prepared Spectrum's second flight.
- Jun 2026
Qualification flight prepared
The second Spectrum flight, Mission 'Onward and Upward', was targeted no earlier than 15 June 2026 from Andoya as a qualification mission carrying its first payloads.
Frequently asked questions
Rockets
Spectrum
1 launch
Upcoming launches
Onward and Upward
Aug 6, 2026, 12:00 AM
Isar Aerospace
Spectrum
Andøya Spaceport
Cassini
Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Isar Aerospace
Spectrum
Andøya Spaceport
ΣYNDEO-3
Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Isar Aerospace
Spectrum
Andøya Spaceport
AT-Astra and Others (Spectrum Flight 3)
Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Isar Aerospace
Spectrum
Andøya Spaceport
1 x Pelican satellite
Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Isar Aerospace
Spectrum
Andøya Spaceport
Tom & Jerry
Jun 30, 2027, 12:00 AM
Isar Aerospace
Spectrum
Andøya Spaceport