With SpaceX dialing back its Falcon 9 launch program and no certainty about when Starship will carry payloads to orbit, satellite operators are cheering the success of a new launch provider: Germany's Isar Aerospace, which reached orbit for the first time with its Spectrum rocket from a spaceport in Norway.
Astroscale, a Japanese satellite servicing company, signed two contracts with Isar before the company achieved orbit. COO Chris Blackerby said dedicated launch is essential for their missions. The company needs the 500-700 kg class that few providers offer, as Rocket Lab's Electron is too small and Neutron is not ready.
The success opens opportunities for Europe's space sector, with other companies like Rocket Factory Augsburg and Spain's PLD Space racing to catch up. The market for dedicated small launch services is growing as SpaceX's dominance creates both demand and uncertainty.
