Germany's Isar Aerospace launches rocket into orbit from Norway

Germany's Isar Aerospace launched a rocket into orbit from Norway, marking a significant milestone as Europe seeks to gain independence from U.S. space launch capabilities. The 28-meter-long Spectrum rocket reached orbit from the Andoya Spaceport, north of the Arctic Circle, and became the first privately developed rocket to achieve this feat from continental Europe. The launch followed months of delays and a previous test flight in March 2025 that ended in disaster. The Ministry for Research, Technology and Space highlighted the importance of the milestone, emphasizing Germany's innovative strength and technical expertise. The Spectrum rocket is designed to send civilian and military satellites into low Earth orbit, carrying about one tonne of payload. Isar plans to produce over 30 rockets per year at its plant near Munich. The launch comes as Europe seeks to reduce reliance on U.S. space systems, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz calling for increased space capacity and independence. The development reflects a broader competition among European space companies to lower launch costs and gain economic sovereignty in space.

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