Isar Aerospace Spectrum

Spectrum
Function	Orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Isar Aerospace
Country of origin	Germany
Size
Height	28 m (92 ft)
Diameter	2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	1,000 kg (2,200 lb)
Payload to SSO
Mass	700 kg (1,500 lb)
Launch history
Status	In Development
Launch sites	Andøya Space; Guiana Space Centre;
First stage
Powered by	9 x Aquila
Propellant	Propane/LOX
Second stage
Powered by	1 x Aquila
Propellant	Propane/LOX
	[edit on Wikidata]

Spectrum is a two-stage orbital launch vehicle being developed by the German startup company Isar Aerospace.^[1] The company intends for the Spectrum rocket to achieve the first commercial launch of a small-lift launch vehicle to orbit by a private European company.

Development of the Spectrum commenced during the 2010s. Much of its design has been produced internally; a key target during development was the price point of €10,000 ($11,700) per kg, as well as to be as flexible as possible as to suit a wide variety of payload requirements. Isar Aerospace has arranged terms to conduct Spectrum launches from both the Andøya Spaceport in Norway and the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. Early customers for the launcher include Airbus Defence and Space, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Spaceflight, Inc.. In December 2021, the first launch of Spectrum was anticipated to take place some time in 2022;^[2] following delays, it is presently set to occur during 2024.^[3]

Design

Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to carry both small and medium-sized satellites.^[1] It has a maximum payload capacity of 1,000kg to low Earth orbit (LEO) or alternatively up to 700kg to a semi-synchronous orbit (SSO). Isar Aerospace has promoted the launcher for possessing considerable flexibility, better permitting it to fulfil the varying demands of its prospective customers.^[1] According to the company, the vast majority of Spectrum has been both developed and manufactured inhouse, including its Aquila engines. It is a relatively compact rocket, in part facilitated by the high energy density of its propellant, which comprises a combination of liquid oxygen and propane.^[1] It has been designed to achieve a price point of €10,000 ($11,700) per kg.^[4]

The first stage of Spectrum is powered by an arrangement of nine Aquila engines, while the second stage is provided with a single Aquila engine.^[1] This second stage engine is to be equipped with a multi-ignition system, permitting it to be shut down and reignited if the launch profile should require such an arrangement, eliminating the need for an additional 'kick' stage.^[5] The propellant is supplied to the engines at relatively high pressure via a turbopump.^[1] In March 2023, Isar Aerospace reported having performed 124 hotfires of the Aquila engine during the prior year, these test runs having been performed at Esrange, Sweden;^[6] these tests demonstrated greater than anticipated performance with one of these engines being fired on six separate occasions without any intervening refurbishment.^[7]

Launch sites

During April 2021, a 20-year deal was signed by Isar Aerospace for exclusive access to one of the Andøya Space launch pads in Norway. Due to its location, inclinations between 87.4 and 108 degrees can be reached from this launch site, targeting Sun-synchronous and polar orbits.^[8]^[9]

In July 2022, Isar Aerospace announced that it had been selected by France's National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) to conduct launch operations at the former Kourou Diamant Launch Site at the Guiana Space Centre, which had been last used for an orbital launch in 1975. Due to the low latitude of this launch site, it can be used for equatorial and medium inclination orbits. The first launch to take place from this launch site has been scheduled for 2024.^[10]

Launches

In 2021, multiple launch arrangements for Spectrum were announced between companies, such as Airbus Defence and Space,^[11]^[12] EnduroSat,^[13] and Astrocast.^[14] In December 2021, it was announced by Isar Aerospace and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) that a total of seven small satellites would comprise the institutional payload to be carried on Spectrum’s first flight.^[2] During early 2023, it was announced that Spectrum's first American customer, Spaceflight, Inc., had agreed terms for a dedicated launch from Andøya during 2026 along with an option for a 2025 launch.^[15]^[16]

In December 2021, the first launch of Spectrum was anticipated to take place some time in 2022.^[2] By March 2023, Isar Aerospace was reportedly aiming for the first flight was set to occur some time during the second half of 2023.^[17]^[18] However, by November 2023, this milestone had been postponed again into 2024.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Spectrum". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Isar Aerospace announces payloads for Spectrum's first flight". spacewatch.global. 14 December 2021.
^ ^a ^b Duffy, Kate (2 November 2023). "German Startup to Launch Rockets From Norway in First for Europe". Bloomberg.
^ Berger, Eric (21 September 2020). "A German rocket startup seeks to disrupt the European launch industry". arstechnica.com.
^ "FT: Munich start-up Isar Aerospace starts production of Spectrum rocket". spacewatch.global. 8 September 2020.
^ "Isar Aerospace unveils progress on Aquila engine development". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^ "Spectrum on Andøya Spaceport launch pad". European Space Agency. 16 November 2023.
^ "Launch site secured: Isar Aerospace signs exclusive launch pad in Norway for up to 20 years". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^ Geschwindt, Siôn (3 November 2023). "Europe's first continental spaceport opens in major boost for German startup". thenextweb.com.
^ "Isar Aerospace selected to be first privately-funded launch services company flying satellites from Guiana Space Centre". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^ Holmes, Mark (22 April 2021). "Isar Aerospace Signs Launch Deal with Airbus Defence and Space". ViaSatellite. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^ "Airbus Commits To Using Isar's Spectrum Micro-Launcher". Aviation Week. 22 April 2021.
^ Jewett, Rachel (25 October 2021). "EnduroSat Signs Launch Contract With German Isar Aerospace". ViaSatellite. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^ Holmes, Mark (15 December 2021). "Astrocast Taps Isar Aerospace for Upcoming Launch". ViaSatellite. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^ Jewett, Rachel (26 January 2023). "Isar Aerospace Signs Rideshare Deal with Spaceflight, Works Toward First Flight". ViaSatellite. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^ Rainbow, Jason (25 January 2023). "Spaceflight books dedicated Isar Aerospace launch in 2026". spacenews.com.
^ Berger, Eric (28 March 2023). "A front-runner emerges in the European small launcher race". Ars Technica. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^ Taylor, Dan (28 March 2023). "Isar Aerospace closes €155 million round, ignition sequence start, all engine running". tech.eu.

[spectrumdata-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Spectrum". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[payloads_firstflight-2] "Isar Aerospace announces payloads for Spectrum's first flight". spacewatch.global. 14 December 2021.

[bloom_nov2023-3] Duffy, Kate (2 November 2023). "German Startup to Launch Rockets From Norway in First for Europe". Bloomberg.

[4] Berger, Eric (21 September 2020). "A German rocket startup seeks to disrupt the European launch industry". arstechnica.com.

[5] "FT: Munich start-up Isar Aerospace starts production of Spectrum rocket". spacewatch.global. 8 September 2020.

[6] "Isar Aerospace unveils progress on Aquila engine development". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[7] "Spectrum on Andøya Spaceport launch pad". European Space Agency. 16 November 2023.

[8] "Launch site secured: Isar Aerospace signs exclusive launch pad in Norway for up to 20 years". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[9] Geschwindt, Siôn (3 November 2023). "Europe's first continental spaceport opens in major boost for German startup". thenextweb.com.

[10] "Isar Aerospace selected to be first privately-funded launch services company flying satellites from Guiana Space Centre". Isar Aerospace. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[11] Holmes, Mark (22 April 2021). "Isar Aerospace Signs Launch Deal with Airbus Defence and Space". ViaSatellite. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[12] "Airbus Commits To Using Isar's Spectrum Micro-Launcher". Aviation Week. 22 April 2021.

[13] Jewett, Rachel (25 October 2021). "EnduroSat Signs Launch Contract With German Isar Aerospace". ViaSatellite. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[14] Holmes, Mark (15 December 2021). "Astrocast Taps Isar Aerospace for Upcoming Launch". ViaSatellite. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[15] Jewett, Rachel (26 January 2023). "Isar Aerospace Signs Rideshare Deal with Spaceflight, Works Toward First Flight". ViaSatellite. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[16] Rainbow, Jason (25 January 2023). "Spaceflight books dedicated Isar Aerospace launch in 2026". spacenews.com.

[ars280323-17] Berger, Eric (28 March 2023). "A front-runner emerges in the European small launcher race". Ars Technica. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[18] Taylor, Dan (28 March 2023). "Isar Aerospace closes €155 million round, ignition sequence start, all engine running". tech.eu.

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v t e European orbital launch systems
Active	Ariane 6 Vega
In development	Ariane Next Bloostar Haas 2b Haas 2CA Miura 5 Miura Next North Star RFA One Skylon SL1 Spectrum
Retired	Ariane 1 2 3 4 5 Black Arrow Diamant Europa
Cancelled	Aldebaran Ariane 5 ME Ariane M Capricornio Haas Hopper HOTOL Hyperion SSTO Liberty Liquid Fly-back Booster Derivatives BAC Mustard OTRAG SOAR

v t e Orbital launch systems
List of orbital launch systems Comparison of orbital launch systems
Current	Angara 1.2 A5 Ariane 6 Atlas V Ceres 1 1S Chollima-1 Electron Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon Heavy Firefly Alpha Gravity-1 GSLV H-IIA H3 Hyperbola-1 Jielong 1 3 KAIROS^† Kaituozhe 2 Kinetica 1 Kuaizhou 1 1A 11 Long March 2C 2D 2F 3A 3B/E 3C 4B 4C 5 5B 6 6A 7 7A 8 11 11H LVM3 Minotaur I IV V C Nuri OS-M1^† Pegasus XL Proton-M PSLV Qaem 100 Qased RS1^† Shavit 2 Simorgh SLS Block 1 Soyuz-2 2.1a / STA 2.1b / STB 2-1v SSLV Starship Tianlong-2 Unha Vega C Vulcan Centaur Zhuque 2
In development	Antares 330 Bloostar Cyclone-4M Deca Epsilon S Eris Gravity-2 Hyperbola-2 Irtysh Kuaizhou 21 31 Long March 9 10 12 Miura 5 MLV Neutron New Glenn New Line 1 NGLV Nova OS-M 2 4 Orbex Prime Pallas-1 Red Dwarf SLS Block 1B Block 2 Soyuz-7 Terran R Tianlong-3 VLM Vega E Zero Zhuque 3 Zuljanah
Retired	Antares 110 120 130^† 230 230+ Ariane 1 2 3 4 5 ASLV Athena I II Atlas B D E/F G H I II III LV-3B SLV-3 Able^† Agena Centaur Black Arrow Conestoga^† Delta A B C D E G J L M N 0100 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 II III IV IV Heavy Diamant Dnepr Energia Epsilon Europa I^† II^† Falcon 1 Falcon 9 v1.0 v1.1 v1.2 "Full Thrust" Feng Bao 1 GSLV Mk I H-I H-II H-IIB Juno I Juno II Kaituozhe-1 Kosmos original 1 2/2I 3 3M Lambda 4S LauncherOne Long March 1 1D^† 2A 2E 3 3B 4A Mu 4S 3C 3H 3S 3SII V N1^† N-I N-II Naro-1 Paektusan^† Pilot-2^† R-7 Luna Molniya M L Polyot Soyuz original FG L M U U2 Soyuz/Vostok Sputnik Voskhod Vostok L K 2 2M R-29 Shtil' Volna^† Rocket 3 Safir 1 1A 1B Saturn I IB V Scout X-1 Blue Scout II^† X-2^† X-2M X-3 X-3M X-4 X-2B^† B A B-1 D-1 A-1 E-1 F-1 G-1 Shavit original 1 SLV Space Shuttle SPARK^† Sparta SS-520 Start-1 Terran 1^† Thor Able Ablestar 1 2 Agena A B D Burner 1 2 Delta DSV-2U Thorad-Agena SLV-2G SLV-2H Titan II GLV IIIA IIIB IIIC IIID IIIE 34D 23G CT-3 IV Tsyklon R-36-O original 2 3 Universal Rocket UR-500 Proton Proton-K Rokot Strela Vanguard Vega original VLS-1^† Zenit 2 2M 2FG 3SL 3SLB 3F Zhuque 1^†
Classes	Sounding rocket Small-lift launch vehicle Medium-lift launch vehicle Heavy-lift launch vehicle Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
This Template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future Symbol ^† indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)