Isar Aerospace

Builds Spectrum, a two-stage liquid-fuelled launch vehicle carrying up to 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit, serving the small and medium satellite market from launch sites in Norway and French Guiana.

Founded 2018201-500 employeesOttobrunn, Germany10 open positionsWebsite LinkedIn

Space & Satellites

Products & Solutions

Spectrum

Spectrum is Isar Aerospace's two-stage orbital launch vehicle, 28 metres tall and 2 metres in diameter, designed for small and medium satellites. It carries up to 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit or 700 kg to sun-synchronous orbit using liquid oxygen and propane propellants. Both stages use the in-house Aquila engine. Customers can choose between three service configurations: Dedicated (exclusive launch with customer-defined orbit and timing), Lead (customer sets orbit and timing on a shared flight) or Rideshare (routine shared flights to pre-defined orbits). The vehicle uses automated carbon composite manufacturing and pyro-free stage separation throughout.

Videos

Introducing Isar Aerospace

'Going Full Spectrum' — Isar Aerospace's First Test Flight

About

Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 in Ottobrunn, near Munich, Germany, to develop a privately-funded European launch vehicle for small and medium-sized satellites. The company employs over 400 people from nearly 50 countries and has raised more than EUR 500 million in private capital, making it one of the most capitalised independent New Space companies in Europe.

Its only product is Spectrum, a two-stage rocket 28 metres tall and 2 metres in diameter, capable of lifting 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit and 700 kg to sun-synchronous orbit. Spectrum uses liquid oxygen and propane propellants. Both stages are powered by Aquila engines developed entirely in-house. The vehicle's primary structure is manufactured from automated single-part carbon composite, and the most complex engine components are 3D-printed from high-performance metals. Isar maintains full vertical integration from design through to launch.

Spectrum launched for the first time on 30 March 2025 from Andøya Spaceport in Norway under the mission name 'Going Full Spectrum'. The rocket lifted off successfully but was terminated approximately 30 seconds into flight after an unexpected vent valve opening caused a loss of attitude control. A second qualification flight, 'Onward and Upward', carrying five CubeSats and one experiment as part of ESA's Boost! programme, was being prepared as of early 2026. Isar operates a dedicated launch pad at Andøya and has signed a binding agreement with CNES to use the former Diamant launch site in Kourou, French Guiana.

CEO Daniel Metzler leads the company alongside CTO Josef Fleischmann and CCO Stella Guillen. The company is developing a production facility near Munich in partnership with VGP Group, designed to manufacture up to 40 Spectrum rockets annually.

Offices

Ottobrunn, Germany

Munich, Germany

Kiruna, Sweden

Andøya, Norway

Backed by

Earlybird Venture CapitalAirbus VenturesHV CapitalLakestarPorsche SEUVC PartnersBayern KapitalVsquared Ventures7-Industries HoldingLombard Odier Investment ManagersNATO Innovation FundG3TBesant CapitalEldridge Industries

Customers & Partners

European Space Agency (ESA)SEOPSESA Boost! programme (German Space Agency Microlauncher Competition)CNES (Kourou launch site agreement)Andøya Space (exclusive launch pad in Norway)VGP Group (production facility near Munich)Astroscale (active debris removal mission collaboration, 2026)

Timeline

2025-03

Conducted first test flight of Spectrum ('Going Full Spectrum') from Andøya Spaceport, Norway — Europe's first orbital launch attempt by a fully privately-funded company.

2024-06

Extended Series C to over EUR 220 million with NATO Innovation Fund as lead investor, marking the fund's first direct investment in a satellite launch provider.

2023-03

Secured Series C round of USD 165 million, the largest SpaceTech financing globally that year, bringing total capitalisation above USD 330 million.

2021-07

Raised additional USD 75 million in a Series B extension, with Porsche SE acquiring a stake.

2020-12

Closed Series B round of USD 91 million led by Lakestar with participation from HV Capital.

2018

Founded in Ottobrunn, Germany by Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann and Markus Brandl.

Isar Aerospace

Products & Solutions