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Isar Aerospace
Small & medium satellite launch vehicles

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Isar Aerospace is a German launch services company founded in 2018 by three TU Munich aerospace graduates—Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann, and Markus Brandl—who began developing rocket engines while students in WARR, TU Munich's rocketry group. The company designs, manufactures, and operates its Spectrum launch vehicle: a two-stage, 28-metre rocket capable of delivering up to 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit, targeting the fast-growing small and medium satellite and constellation market with dedicated, lead, and rideshare launch configurations.

Spectrum is built through a vertically integrated, highly automated production process using advanced techniques including additive manufacturing and carbon composite materials. This approach, conducted entirely in-house across facilities near Munich and in Sweden, allows Isar to scale production efficiently toward its target of 40 launches per year. The company operates a dedicated launch complex at Andøya Spaceport in Norway and is developing additional launch sites in Canada.

On 5 September 2026, Isar Aerospace became the first commercial company from Europe to successfully deliver satellites to orbit—on just its second flight—with Mission 'Onward and Upward', deploying five CubeSats and an experiment payload. This milestone also made Isar the first provider to complete the core orbital-launch requirement under ESA's €197.8 million European Launcher Challenge contract. With over 400 employees from nearly 50 nations, defense customers now accounting for approximately 60% of its order book, and launch vehicles #3–7 already in production, the company is accelerating toward full commercial operations.

Isar Aerospace has raised over €820 million in private and institutional capital across multiple rounds from investors including HV Capital, Lakestar, Earlybird, UVC Partners, Molten Ventures, Porsche SE, Airbus Ventures, and the NATO Innovation Fund, achieving unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.

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