Spectrum / launch vehicle
sourcingtypical 4/5 · 12 factstwo-stage orbital small-lift launch vehicleDEUoperational
Spectrum is a small launch vehicle developed by German company Isar Aerospace.
key details
faq
Who builds Spectrum?
Spectrum is built by Isar Aerospace. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
How many times has Spectrum flown?
Spectrum has flown 2 times. (source, as of 2026-09-07)
When did Spectrum first fly?
Spectrum first flew on 2025-03-30. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
Is Spectrum reusable?
Spectrum is not reusable. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
facts
providerIsar Aerospace
countryDEU
classtwo-stage orbital small-lift launch vehicle
payload to LEO (kg)1000
reusableno
first flight2025-03-30
flights total2
flights successful1
last flight2026-09-05
next flightunknown
statusoperational
price per launch (USD)unknown
height (m)28
diameter (m)2
events
- seismic2026-09-05Isar Aerospace reaches orbit with Spectrum on second flight
- notable2026-09-02Astroscale selects Isar Aerospace to launch ADRAS-J2 debris removal mission
- major2026-08-27ESA signs first European Launcher Challenge contracts worth €543.6 million
- notable2026-08-06FCC votes to open unlicensed spectrum for direct-to-device satellite links
- major2026-08-03Xona secures FCC spectrum approval for 250-satellite navigation network
- major2026-07-28EchoStar closes $20.25 billion spectrum sale to AT&T
- major2026-07-22FCC approves second C-band auction, clearing 160 MHz of satellite spectrum
- major2026-07-07Isar Aerospace signs launch site deal with Maritime Launch Services
- notable2026-07-02Isar Aerospace to launch Planet's first German-built satellite mission
- major2026-06-30EchoStar's Dish units enter prepackaged Chapter 11 to clear the spectrum sales
- major2026-06-05Amazon Leo wins conditional FCC waiver of 50% deployment deadline, with spectrum cost
- major2026-05-12FCC approves SpaceX's spectrum purchase from EchoStar
timeline
- 20262026-09-05Spectrum's second flight, 'Onward and Upward,' reaches orbit (source, as of 2026-09-07)
- 20252025-03-30incidentMaiden Flight launch failureoutcome: Launch Failure (source, as of 2026-07-08)
- 2025-03-12Norwegian Space Agency contracts Isar Aerospace to launch AOS satellites on Spectrum (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20222022-07-21Isar Aerospace selected as first private launch operator at Guiana Space Centre (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20212021-04-14Isar Aerospace signs exclusive 20 year Andoya Spaceport launch pad deal (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20202020-09-07Isar Aerospace starts production of Spectrum launch vehicles (source, as of 2026-07-12)
sources
[1] ll.thespacedevs.com ↗
provider2026-07-05country2026-07-05payload to LEO (kg)2026-07-05reusable2026-07-05first flight2026-07-05flights total2026-09-07flights successful2026-09-07last flight2026-09-07height (m)2026-07-08diameter (m)2026-07-08