Europe's Spectrum rocket returns to the skies with Onward and Upward

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German launch startup Isar Aerospace is targeting Thursday, March 19, at 4:00 p.m. EDT for the second flight of its Spectrum launch vehicle from the company's dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space in northern Norway. The mission, titled Onward and Upward, represents a return to flight nearly 12 months after Spectrum's maiden launch failed.

Why it matters

Spectrum is a key part of Europe's efforts to develop independent access to space, and this second flight is critical for Isar Aerospace to demonstrate the rocket's capabilities and reliability after the failure of its first launch in 2025.

The details

Spectrum is a two-stage, liquid-oxygen-and propane-fueled rocket capable of delivering up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms) to low Earth orbit, designed and manufactured almost entirely in-house near Munich. On March 30, 2025, its first flight, and the first orbital launch from the European continent, ended roughly 30 seconds after liftoff due to the accidental opening of a vent valve. Isar Aerospace has since implemented corrective actions to prevent a recurrence. Unlike the first flight, which had no payload, Onward and Upward will carry five CubeSats and one nonseparable experiment, from European universities and companies through the European Space Agency's Boost! program.

• Isar Aerospace is targeting Thursday, March 19, at 4:00 p.m. EDT for the second flight of its Spectrum launch vehicle.
• Spectrum's maiden launch failed on March 30, 2025, roughly 30 seconds after liftoff.

What’s next

If the Onward and Upward mission is successful, it will be a critical step for Isar Aerospace towards establishing Europe's independent access to orbit.