Never before has a rocket blasted from European soil reached orbit – but a German start-up is now on a mission to finally change this. 

Isar Aerospace, a private aerospace company based in Munich, is preparing to launch its 95-foot-tall Spectrum rocket from Norway. 

The ambitious two-stage launch vehicle is designed for sending small and medium-sized satellites into orbit much like rivals including Elon Musk’s SpaceX. 

More than six years in development, Spectrum was due to launch on Monday from Andøya Space Centre on Norway’s remote Andøya island. 

Unfortunately, blast off was scrapped due to adverse weather conditions, although the company will try again at a later date, to be confirmed. 

‘The first test flight of #Spectrum is scrubbed due to unfavorable winds,’ the company posted to X on Monday. 

‘Launch vehicle and range remain healthy, and the team is working to determine a new launch window together with @AndoyaSpace Spaceport.’ 

The startup, which says it has raised more than 400 million euros (£335 million), hopes to build up to 40 launch vehicles per year in the future at a plant outside of Munich, all for putting satellites into orbit. 

Isar Aerospace, a private aerospace company based based in Munich, is preparing to launch its 95-foot-tall Spectrum rocket from Norway. Pictured, Isar Aerospace’s ‘Spectrum’ liquid-fueled rocket stands on a launchpad at Andøya Space Centre, Norway, March 21, 2025

Unfavorable winds meant that the Spectrum rocket couldn’t be launched from the island of Andøya in northern Norway 

Named after the river that flows through Munich, Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 by Daniel Metzler, Markus Brandl and Josef Peter Fleischmann. 

Among its mission objectives are lowering ‘the entry barriers to space’ and creating ‘easy access to space for global customers’ with its Spectrum rocket. 

Spectrum uses liquid oxygen and propane, offering ‘high-performing, clean propulsion that minimizes the environmental impact’, the firm says. 

‘By enabling access to space, we contribute to humanity’s progress and our planet’s sustainable technological and economic development,’ it adds. 

Already, Spectrum has completed ‘static fire tests’ – where fueling and ignition systems are tested without the rocket leaving the ground. 

But before it can send up satellites for clients, it needs to demonstrate its ability to reach orbit. 

An orbital flight is a major milestone for any company, representing much more than simply reaching space and coming back down. 

During an orbital flight, a spacecraft is placed on a trajectory where it could remain in space for at least one orbit around Earth. 

Spectrum is transported to a launchpad at Andoya Spaceport in Nordmela, on Andøya island, Norway, on March 10, 2025

Isar Aerospace is separate from the European Space Agency (ESA) which is funded by its 23 member states. Pictured, Spectrum in transit at Andøya Space Centre

More than six years in development, Spectrum was due to launch on Monday from Andøya Space Centre on Norway’s remote Andøya island

Amazingly, there’s never been an orbital space launch from European soil before, although a few European nations have launched from other parts of the world. 

In 1965, France launched its Diamant rocket from Algeria, while in 1971 the UK launched Black Arrow from South Australia. 

The European Space Agency (ESA) has been launching rockets and satellites into orbit for years, but mainly from French Guiana in South America, as well as Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Isar Aerospace now represents a realistic and highly promising candidate for this milestone.  

Although Monday’s launch has been scrubbed, the company said it could conduct it later in the week, subject to weather conditions. 

Isar Aerospace has admitted it may not reach orbit on this first attempt, which has no customer payloads on board. 

It aims to collect as much data and experience as possible on the first integrated test of all the vehicle’s systems. 

Before long, it hopes to have an orbital launch perfected to the point where it can launch with precious client payloads aboard.  

The firm says: ‘By enabling access to space, we contribute to humanity’s progress and our planet’s sustainable technological and economic development’

Britain is also eyeing the milestone with a rocket launch later this year from SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst, the northernmost of the Shetland Islands. 

The 100ft RFA One launch vehicle, developed by German company Rocket Factory Augsburg, will perform a NASA-style vertical blast off from the site. 

It will transport small and micro-satellites of up to 1,300 kg into Earth orbit for paying customers – marking the first ever British satellite launch. 

It comes two years after Virgin Orbit’s attempt at a launch from Cornwall ended in failure.