Monaco Times

Sustainability, Heritage, Exclusivity.
Sunday, Apr 27, 2025

First Orbital Rocket Launch from Continental Europe Set for March 24

German startup Isar Aerospace to test its Spectrum rocket from Norway's Andøya Space Center.
A German startup, Isar Aerospace, is scheduled to conduct a test flight of its Spectrum rocket on March 24 from the Andøya Space Center in Norway, located above the Arctic Circle.

The launch window is set between 12:30 and 15:30 local time (11:30 to 14:30 GMT), contingent on favorable weather conditions.

This event is poised to represent the first vertical launch of an orbital vehicle on continental Europe, outside of Russia.

The Spectrum rocket stands 28 meters tall and has a diameter of 2 meters, with a payload capacity of one tonne.

However, it will not carry any cargo during this test flight and is not expected to reach orbital altitude.

Daniel Metzler, co-founder and CEO of Isar Aerospace, noted that each second of flight is crucial for data collection and experience gain, emphasizing that even thirty seconds of flight would be considered a significant success.

Metzler pointed out that achieving orbit is not the aim of this test, referencing the challenges faced by other companies, including SpaceX, which required multiple attempts to successfully place their first orbital launch vehicle into orbit.

He expressed a desire to expedite the development process.

The report commissioned by Mario Draghi on the competitiveness of the European Union highlighted the importance of space access.

Europe has faced a setback in independent access to space due to the severing of ties with Russian launch sites and platforms amidst rising tensions with Moscow.

Delays in the development of the Ariane 6 rocket and the suspension of the Vega-C launcher following an accident have further complicated European space efforts.

The first commercial flight of the Ariane 6 from Kourou, French Guiana, on March 6 marked a return to independent space access after several months of inactivity.

Micro and mini-launchers like the Spectrum, typically developed by private entities, provide a cost-effective solution for deploying constellations of miniaturized satellites used for applications such as Earth observation and internet coverage.

Toni Tolker-Nielsen, director of space transportation at the European Space Agency (ESA), noted that the emergence of new players and launch services in Europe aims to ensure independent and sovereign access to space, with an expectation of growing prominence in the coming years.

In a competitive landscape, European startups such as Isar Aerospace, HyImpulse, and Rocket Factory Augsburg, alongside French firms Latitude and MaiaSpace (a subsidiary of Arianegroup), and Spanish company PLD Space are racing to establish themselves as key market players, seeking to catch up with American companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin.

Various European spaceports, from the Azores to the Shetland Islands, Andøya, and Esrange in Sweden, are developing their projects, each aiming for early operational capacity.

In the UK, Virgin Orbit, owned by Richard Branson, has ceased operations following the failure of its inaugural launch from Spaceport Cornwall in early 2023.

The upcoming flight by Isar Aerospace marks a significant milestone as the first vertical launch of an orbital vehicle in continental Europe, an area that has previously only seen suborbital launches.

Tolker-Nielsen acknowledged the importance of this launch as a step forward, highlighting it as the first launch of a European launcher under entirely private responsibility.

Founded in 2018, the Munich-based startup claims to have developed its two-stage launcher almost entirely in-house, having also secured a contract with the Norwegian Space Agency for the launch of two maritime surveillance satellites by 2028.

The Andøya Space Center, promoting itself as the first operational spaceport in continental Europe, emphasizes its Arctic location as advantageous for launching polar or sun-synchronous satellites, which orbit above any given point on Earth at the same local solar time each day.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
World Leaders Gather in Rome for Pope Francis's Funeral
Not Child’s Play: How Competitive Gaming Became a Global Economic Empire
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Alisha Lehmann's Modeling Campaign and Public Controversy Stir Debate Ahead of UEFA Women's Euro
U.S. Firms with Major International Revenue Exposure Following New Tariffs
President Trump Calls on the Federal Reserve to Reduce Interest Rates in Light of New Tariffs
British comedian Russell Brand has been charged with rape and several counts of sexual assault.
Kanye West Acknowledges in New Song That His Wife Bianca Censori Has Departed from Him.
Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme Accused of Having Sex with Human Trafficking Victims
French Foreign Ministry Dismisses U.S. Intervention in Corporate Inclusion Initiatives
This is what we refer to as CREATIVITY.
Former FIFA President and French football icon exonerated of corruption allegations.
Pope Francis Released from Hospital Following Pneumonia Treatment
Pope Francis Appears Publicly for the First Time in Five Weeks After His Hospital Stay
Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu Imprisoned on Corruption Allegations During Political Unrest
Pope Francis Set to Leave Hospital Following Pneumonia Recovery
European Union Moves Toward Joint Debt for Military Spending
France Takes a Strong Stance Against Potential US Tariffs on Alcoholic Drinks
Donatella Versace to Depart as Creative Director Following Almost 30 Years.
French Prime Minister Bayrou Affirms Position Against US Tariff Threats
EU and Canada Unveil Counter Tariffs in Response to U.S. Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
Pope Francis Displays Signs of Recovery, Yet Remains in the Hospital
Leak of Radioactive Coolant from Europe’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant Reported
Russian Teacher Under Investigation After Explicit Content Incident in Classroom
Poland Plans Comprehensive Military Training for All Adult Males Amid Enhanced Defense Initiatives
Pope Francis Shows Appreciation Despite Ongoing Health Struggles.
Macron Cautions Against Escalating Russian Hostility as U.S. Support for Ukraine Changes
EU Member States Endorse Gradual Rollout of Entry/Exit System
Europe Considers Using Frozen Russian Assets to Aid Ukraine
Macron Calls on Europe to Enhance Defense in Light of Russian Threats and Possible U.S. Withdrawal.
Pope Francis's Health Status: Vatican Reports Stable Condition
U.S. Creates Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve, Triggering Market Upsurge
Zelenskyy Convenes with UK Prime Minister Starmer Amid Strained Relations with the US
Here, unelected President Zelensky meets with two top American democratically elected officials who are neither stupid, nor bribed, nor blind
Pope Francis Admitted to Hospital with Pneumonia Faces Breathing Difficulty
Katy Perry to Become Part of All-Female Crew on Blue Origin Mission
Trump Announces 25% Tariffs on European Imports, Citing Unfair Trade Practices
Pope Francis has reportedly shown minor signs of improvement during his hospitalization.
Japanese Police Academies Implement Makeup Instruction for Male Cadets
Germany Gears Up for Crucial Election in Times of Political Turmoil
Pope Francis Admitted to Hospital in Rome Amid Rising Speculation on Succession
Macron Calls for Urgent Summit as Ukraine War Business Model Encounters Threats
AI-Enhanced Virtual Boyfriends Rising in Popularity in China
Zelensky Urges European Military Growth Amid Unclear US Backing
Trump's Greenland Proposal Sparks Sovereignty Discussions in Light of Historical Grievances
Steering Through the Revised Chain of Command at the European Commission
Parliament Legislator Advocates for Preservation of AI Liability Directive
Mark Rutte Calls on NATO Allies to Increase Defence Expenditures.
Dresden Marks 80 Years Since the World War II Bombing
×