Isar Aerospace, a German launch startup, has gained new funding amounting to $165 million, which will help with its goal to launch its small rocket, Spectrum, later this year, as reported by TechCrunch.
Isar Aerospace is one of the startups in Europe that are aiming to fill the gap in the launch market on the continent. Currently, there are only two European rockets flying today.
Better Sovereign Launch Capabilities Soon?
The European Union is focused on the automotive industry, but they are now recognizing the importance of investing in space due to its high profitability.
Isar Aerospace will take a long-term approach to being fully vertically integrated, which the company thinks that will have a huge pay off.
Isar Aerospace will fly five customer payloads on its first mission, which is scheduled for the second half of this year from Norway. The company has signed with Andøya Space for the exclusive use of one of its launch pads for up to 20 years.
The company also has contracts with several customers for future launchers, such as OroraTech and Exotrail.
Also read: Europe Launches Rocket Carrying First Building Block Of Space Data Highway
Next Step: Stage Testing
Isar Aerospace still has things to do before the first launch. The next step is stage testing. Recently, they ran 124 hot fire tests of their Aquila rocket engine over a one-year period.
Europe's sovereign rocket launches refer to the launch of rockets by European countries without relying on outside help. The European Space Agency (ESA) has been working on developing its own rockets and launch capabilities for several decades. The main objective of the sovereign rocket launches is to reduce Europe's dependence on other countries for space technology.
One of the most significant developments in this area is the Ariane rocket family. The Ariane rockets are a series of rockets that have been developed by ESA and its partners to launch satellites into space. The Ariane rockets are designed to be reliable, cost-effective, and versatile, with the ability to launch a wide range of payloads into space.
The Ariane rockets have been used to launch many different types of satellites, including telecommunications, weather, and scientific research satellites. They have also been used to launch the Galileo navigation system, which is Europe's own satellite navigation system.
Europe's sovereign rocket launches are an important achievement because they demonstrate Europe's ability to become a major player in the global space industry. By developing its own rockets and launch capabilities, Europe is reducing its dependence on other countries for space technology, which is important for maintaining its strategic autonomy.
Europe's sovereign rocket launches are an important development that demonstrates Europe's ability to become a major player in the global space industry. The development of the Ariane rockets has been a significant achievement, allowing Europe to launch a wide range of satellites into space and reduce its dependence on other countries for space technology.
Related article: Meet ArianeGroup's SUSIE: Europe's Latest Reusable Spacecraft for Many Missions
