German rocket reaches space as Europe enters satellite launch race

German start-up Isar Aerospace on Saturday launched its first rocket into space from a site in Arctic Norway, bringing Europe closer to offering satellite flights from its own soil.

The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was the first commercial flight to reach orbit from continental Europe, ‌where several nations have said they want a share of a growing market for space missions.

“We’re in orbit! And just made European history,” Isar said in a post on social media.

The event was a breakthrough for the European launch industry, giving the continent better access to space, Norway’s minister of industry and commerce, Cecilie Myrseth, said in a statement.

“The fact that we can now launch satellites from Andoeya strengthens Norwegian and ⁠European security in the turbulent times we live in,” Myrseth said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Isar’s launch site in ‌March, underscoring Europe’s efforts to establish greater autonomy as the global order once championed by the United States is shifting under US President Donald Trump.

Blasting off from Norway’s Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, ‌the uncrewed Spectrum, designed for small and medium-sized payloads, carried five small satellites as well as an ⁠in-flight technological experiment, according to ⁠Isar.