German space rocket lifts off from Norway base

German startup Isar Aerospace launched its uncrewed Spectrum rocket into orbit from Norway's Arctic Andøya Spaceport on September 5, carrying five small satellites and an in-flight technology experiment. The qualification mission was the first commercial flight to reach orbit from continental Europe and followed the company's March 2025 debut, which fell into the sea shortly after liftoff but generated engineering data. Spectrum targets small and medium payloads, and the successful second mission strengthens Europe's domestic launch capacity as Isar expands infrastructure with roughly €200 million in European Space Agency support and plans a Canadian site.