European start-up set to launch orbital rocket from Norwegian spaceport today

Isar Aerospace to launch its first test flight mission, ‘Going Full Spectrum’, from Andøya Spaceport in Norway.

The European space company, which is headquartered in Munich, is making final preparations to launch its orbital launch vehicle Spectrum.

The 28-metre Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle designed for small and medium-sized satellites. Andøya is the first operational spaceport in continental Europe.

The launch window opens from 12.30 to 15.30 CET today (24 March), subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure.

The first test flight is the culmination of a seven-year journey of developing the launch vehicle in-house. It will mark the first integrated test of all systems and tens of thousands of components.

While Isar Aerospace says that the possibility of this vehicle reaching orbit on this first test flight is slim, the flight will enable the firm to collect as much data and experience as possible. No customer payloads are on board this flight.

“Whatever the outcome, Isar...