Isar reaches orbit in continental Europe’s first fully commercial orbital launch

Germany’s Isar Aerospace has put small satellites into orbit with its Spectrum rocket, launched from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport. That makes it the first commercial company to successfully deliver satellites to orbit from continental Europe—a milestone because reaching orbit means placing a payload on the precise path needed to circle Earth, not simply getting a rocket off the ground. Spectrum’s first test in 2025 cleared the launch pad but failed shortly afterward, so this second mission had to show that the vehicle could complete the job. The result gives satellite operators a new private launch option from Europe, although Isar must now prove it can repeat the feat safely and reliably.