Isar Aerospace sets Spectrum launch window at Andøya Spaceport from Friday

September 4, 2026 at 05:48 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Isar Aerospace will open a weeklong launch window for its Spectrum rocket on Friday at Andøya Spaceport in Norway, aiming to deliver several small CubeSats to orbit. The launch comes during Norway's national mourning for King Harald V, whose funeral is set for September 9. The company has faced multiple delays since January due to technical problems and range unavailability.

Key Facts

Isar Aerospace will open a weeklong launch window for its Spectrum rocket on Friday at Andøya Spaceport in Norway.
The German company aims to deliver several small CubeSats to orbit with the two-stage Spectrum rocket.
Isar Aerospace won a 200 million euro ($230 million) contract from the European Space Agency last month to support further development of new launch vehicles.
PLD Space has secured an additional 108 million euros ($126 million) in funding for its Miura 5 rocket.

Launch Window

Isar Aerospace will open a weeklong launch window for its Spectrum rocket on Friday at Andøya Spaceport in Norway, according to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). The German launch company aims to deliver several small CubeSats to orbit with the two-stage Spectrum rocket. A test flight of the privately funded launcher failed shortly after liftoff last year, and Isar has attempted to launch the second Spectrum rocket several times since January, only to be thwarted by technical problems and the unavailability of the launch range in northern Norway.

Mourning Period

The launch window comes as Norway is in a period of national mourning following the death of King Harald V. Isar’s founder, Daniel Metzler, told NRK he hopes to launch before the late king’s funeral on September 9, but the Norwegian government says the mission can go ahead normally during the mourning period.

European Launch Funding

Isar Aerospace won a 200 million euro ($230 million) contract from the European Space Agency last month to support further development of new launch vehicles. Spanish launch services provider PLD Space has secured an additional 108 million euros ($126 million) in funding as it prepares for the inaugural orbital launch attempt of its small Miura 5 rocket, European Spaceflight reports.