German aerospace startup Isar Aerospace has successfully launched its Spectrum rocket into orbit, marking a major milestone for Europe’s commercial space industry. 

The rocket lifted off from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport and deployed five small satellites along with a scientific experiment into low Earth orbit.

The achievement makes Isar the first commercial European company to successfully place satellites into orbit from European soil, providing a new competitor to companies such as SpaceX. 

The successful flight is especially significant because Spectrum’s first launch attempt ended in failure when the rocket crashed shortly after liftoff in 2025, CNBC has reported.

Isar Aerospace now plans to expand production and launch operations, as Europe seeks greater independence in space and wants to reduce its reliance on American launch providers.