Munich-based space startup Isar Aerospace is on the brink of a historic milestone: the company has received permission to launch its first test rocket, Spectrum, into space. According to Business Insider the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority has approved the launch from the Andøya Spaceport in northern Norway. After several delays due to weather conditions, the new launch date is scheduled for no earlier than March 29, 2025, as the company announced on its social media channels.
Founded in 2018 by three students from the Technical University of Munich — Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann, and Markus Brandl — Isar Aerospace has become the most well-funded space startup in Europe. Since its inception, the company has raised over €400 million, including €65 million in 2024 from the NATO Innovation Fund and other investors such as G3T and 10x Group. Spectrum is a light-class rocket capable of delivering up to 1,000 kg of payload into low Earth orbit. Its launch will not only be the first for Isar Aerospace but also the first orbital rocket launch from continental Europe, making it a landmark event for the region.
“This is the most important step in our journey,” said CEO and co-founder Daniel Metzler. However, the company remains realistic: the first flight is a test, and even 30 seconds of flight would be considered a success, even if the rocket explodes. “Every second gives us data for improvements,” noted Isar Aerospace. The rocket has already passed a series of successful engine tests, and the startup is actively preparing for launch despite recent delays caused by unfavorable winds.
Isar Aerospace is not just building rockets — it aims to change the rules of the game in the space industry. By using 3D printing and automation, the company reduces component manufacturing time from months to hours, making its solutions cheaper and more flexible than those of traditional players.
By the end of the decade, the startup plans to produce up to 40 Spectrum rockets per year at a new manufacturing site near Munich, built in collaboration with VGP Group. It’s an ambitious goal, considering that the small satellite market, according to Morgan Stanley, could reach €10 billion annually by 2027.
The Spectrum launch is not just an opportunity for Isar Aerospace, but also for Europe, which lags behind in the space race: of the 11,000 satellites in orbit, nearly half belong to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Isar’s success could strengthen the region’s technological sovereignty, improve internet coverage in remote areas, enhance weather forecasting accuracy, and aid in climate monitoring. But the competition is fierce: Germany’s HyImpulse and Rocket Factory Augsburg, as well as Spain’s PLD Space and the UK’s Orbex, are also preparing for launches in 2025–2026. Could Isar Aerospace become the European SpaceX? We’ll soon find out!
