Isar Aerospace
Isar Aerospace reached orbit on 5 September 2026 on the second flight of its Spectrum rocket from Andøya, the first orbital launch by a commercial company from continental Europe.
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Ottobrunn, Germany
- Stage
- Growth
- Ownership
- Private
- Total raised
- $310M
- Last valuation
- $2.5B
- Employees
- 400as of 2026
- Last round
- Series D · €270M2026-06
- Investors
- 5
Quick Facts
About Isar Aerospace
Isar Aerospace reached orbit on 5 September 2026 on the second flight of its Spectrum rocket from Andøya, the first orbital launch by a commercial company from continental Europe. Isar Aerospace is a German aerospace company founded in March 2018 by Daniel Metzler (CEO), Markus Brandl, and Josef Peter Fleischmann, who met at Technical University of Munich. Headquartered in Ottobrunn near Munich, the company has grown to over 400 employees from 50+ nations across five international locations.
Former SpaceX executive Bulent Altan serves as chairman. Isar develops the Spectrum rocket, a 28-meter tall, 2-meter diameter two-stage launch vehicle powered by ten in-house developed Aquila engines burning liquid oxygen and propane, targeting 1,000 kg to LEO at €10,000 per kg. With more than €400 million before a €270 million Series D in June 2026 in total funding including a €165 million Series C and €70 million extension from NATO Innovation Fund, Isar signed contracts to launch from Andøya, SaxaVord in Scotland, and CNES's Guiana Space Centre.
On March 30, 2025, Isar became the first European commercial company to launch an orbital rocket from Continental Europe, though the maiden flight failed at T+30 seconds. The company is building the world's most modern production facility near Munich capable of producing 40 Spectrum rockets annually, targeting 6-8 launches by 2028.
Products and product lines
| Product | Line | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Orbital launch vehicle | 28-meter, 2-meter-diameter two-stage rocket burning liquid oxygen and propane, powered by nine first-stage and one second-stage Aquila engines; reached orbit and deployed six payloads on its second flight on 5 September 2026 after its 30 March 2025 debut ended in a loss at T+30 seconds. |
| Aquila engine | Rocket engine | In-house-developed LOX/propane engine producing about 75 kN of thrust at sea level; ten fly on each Spectrum vehicle. |
| Andøya Space launch complex | Launch site | Isar's primary launch site in Norway, exclusively leased since 2021, where both Spectrum flights to date have launched; became Europe's second active spaceport (after Plesetsk) with the September 2026 orbital success. |
| Spaceport Nova Scotia launch complex | Launch site (in development) | Dedicated Spectrum launch complex under a 10-year agreement with Maritime Launch Services signed 7 July 2026, targeting first orbital launches in 2028 and up to 40 launches a year by 2029. |
| European Launcher Challenge contract | Institutional funding/contract | ESA committed roughly EUR 200 million on 27 August 2026 to accelerate Isar's next-generation launch vehicle development and expand test and launch infrastructure. |
| Series D funding round | Institutional funding | EUR 270 million raised 9 June 2026, led by Island Green Capital and Molten Ventures with existing investors HV Capital, Lakestar, UVC Partners and KfW Capital, to expand Spectrum production and the global launch network. |
Timeline
- 2018 Isar Aerospace is founded in March by Daniel Metzler, Markus Brandl and Josef Peter Fleischmann, who met at the Technical University of Munich. [source]
- 2025 Spectrum's maiden flight lifts off from Andøya on 30 March but loses attitude control about 30 seconds in and is lost, after a vent valve opened unexpectedly. [source]
- 2026 Isar signs a launch agreement with Astroscale UK on 16 March for the ELSA-M active debris removal demonstration, to fly on Spectrum from Andøya. [source]
- 2026 Isar closes a EUR 270 million Series D round on 9 June, led by Island Green Capital and Molten Ventures, to fund Spectrum production and network expansion. [source]
- 2026 Isar and Maritime Launch Services sign a 10-year agreement on 7 July to build a dedicated Spectrum launch complex at Spaceport Nova Scotia, Canada, targeting first orbital launches in 2028. [source]
- 2026 ESA signs Isar to a roughly EUR 200 million European Launcher Challenge contract on 27 August to accelerate next-generation vehicle development and expand infrastructure. [source]
- 2026 Isar signs a launch contract with Astroscale Japan on 1 September for the ADRAS-J2 active debris removal mission, targeting a 2027-2028 launch window from Andøya. [source]
- 2026 Spectrum's second flight, "Onward and Upward," launches from Andøya on 5 September, reaches orbit and deploys six ESA Boost!-funded payloads — the first orbital delivery by a commercial launch company from continental Europe. [source]
Daniel Metzler (CEO, Co-founder), Bulent Altan (Chairman)
Funding history
2 events · $310M raised| Date | Round | Amount | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-09 | Series D | €270M | Island Green CapitalMolten VenturesSeries D of €270 million led by Island Green Capital and Molten Ventures, closed 9 June 2026. | isaraerospace.com |
| 2024-03-14 | Series C | $165M | HV CapitalAirbus VenturesPorscheSeries C funding for Spectrum rocket | isaraerospace.com |
Investors
From the sourced rounds above. Investors with two or more deals in the directory link to a portfolio page.
Team
- Daniel MetzlerCEO · source
Signals
- Verification
- Verified 2026-09-09
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Frequently asked about Isar Aerospace
Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.
- When was Isar Aerospace founded?
- Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 in Germany.
- Where is Isar Aerospace headquartered?
- Isar Aerospace is headquartered in Ottobrunn, Germany.
- What does Isar Aerospace do?
- Isar Aerospace reached orbit on 5 September 2026 on the second flight of its Spectrum rocket from Andøya, the first orbital launch by a commercial company from continental Europe. Isar Aerospace is a German aerospace company founded in March 2018 by Daniel Metzler (CEO), Markus Brandl, and Josef Peter Fleischmann, who …
- Is Isar Aerospace a public or private company?
- Isar Aerospace is a privately held company and is not listed on any stock exchange.
- What sector does Isar Aerospace operate in?
- Isar Aerospace works in launch services.
Sources
The structured fields on this page (founding year, location, sector, status, listing) and the profile text are drawn from the sources below. How profiles are drafted and checked is described in our methodology.
- Official website (isaraerospace.com)
- Company LinkedIn page
- Wikidata / Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-09-04
- GLEIF LEI record · retrieved 2026-09-05
- Isar Aerospace: History for European spaceflight — reaches orbit and deploys payloads on second flight (5 Sep 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Isar Aerospace: Signs contract with ESA under the European Launcher Challenge (27 Aug 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Isar Aerospace: Signs launch contract with Astroscale Japan (1 Sep 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Isar Aerospace: Secures EUR 270m Series D (9 Jun 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Isar Aerospace: Sovereign space access for Germany and Canada — Maritime Launch Services contract (7 Jul 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Isar Aerospace: Secures first active debris removal mission with Astroscale (16 Mar 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Funding: Series C funding for Spectrum rocket (2024-03-14) · retrieved 2026-09-04
Data Accuracy Notice: Information about Isar Aerospace is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.