The first orbital rocket to launch from continental Europe is nearing its debut.
Germany based Isar Aerospace has scrubbed another launch attempt of its brand new Spectrum rocket due to weather conditions at Europe’s Andøya Spaceport.
After a second launch attempt today, the first test flight of Spectrum is scrubbed due to weather restrictions,” Isar Aerospace wrote in a post on X today March 29.
Isar Aerospace is now aiming for 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT) on Sunday March 30 for Spectrum’s first launch.
Watch it here courtesy of Isar Aerospace and NASASpaceflight.
As Spectrum’s first test flight, Isar has opted not to fly any customer payloads onboard the rocket, and instead is focusing on collecting as much data from the flight as possible, according to the company’s website.
This will also be the first launch from Andøya Spaceport, which opened in 2023, and whose initial ground infrastructure and facilities were built to specifically accommodate Isar and the Spectrum rocket.
Spectrum stands 95 feet 28 meters tall, a modest middle ground between Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket and SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which measure 56 feet 17 meters and 230 feet 70 meters, respectively.
Once in operation, Isar is billing Spectrum as a small to medium lift launch vehicle, capable of delivering up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit.
Over the course of the past seven years, two-stage Spectrum has been designed and developed by Isar completely in house.
The launch vehicle includes 9 turbopump liquid oxygen propane-fueled engines powering its main booster, and a singular Aquila multi ignition engine for orbital insertions and maneuvers once in space.
Even before Spectrum’s first test launch, Isar has already secured a launch contract to fly the new rocket’s first commercial missions.
The company announced a deal with the Norwegian Space Agency on March 12 for Isar to launch the Arctic Ocean Surveillance AOS program satellites by 2028.
The launch of the AOS satellites from Andøya Spaceport will be a true milestone for Norwegian space activities.
We look forward to a robust partnership with Isar Aerospace and seeing Spectrum in action, said Norwegian Space Agency Director General Christian Hauglie-Hanssen in an Isar press release.
Subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure, the first launch window for Spectrum’s first test flight opens NET 24 Mar,” Isar posted on social media Friday, March 21.
Isar said Monday morning the company is working with the spaceport to determine a new launch window.
Few rockets have reached orbit on their first flights, and Isar appears to be approaching Spectrum’s first test flight with realistic expectations.
The company outlines a list of six mission milestones from liftoff to orbit, but has stated its only goal for the launch is to collect as much as possible.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/1st-ever-orbital-rocket-launch-from-european-soil-targeted-for-march-24
