Isar Aerospace successfully launched its second mission, named "Onward and Upward," from its dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space in Norway. The launch occurred at 10:12 pm CEST on September 5, 2026, and resulted in the successful deployment of payloads into orbit.
This mission marks a significant milestone for European spaceflight, as Isar Aerospace became the first commercial space company from Europe to successfully deliver satellites into orbit. This achievement provides a new commercial and institutional launch alternative, addressing a bottleneck in the global space industry.
During the flight, the vehicle successfully transited MaxQ, completed Main Engine Cut-Off (MECO) and stage separation, and ignited the second stage as planned. It crossed the Kármán line at 100 kilometers altitude, jettisoned the payload fairing, and reached orbital velocity before completing a circularization burn and spacecraft separation.
The mission's payloads were selected through the Microlauncher Competition of the German Space Agency at DLR, which provides low-cost access to space for educational institutions and start-ups, funded by ESA Boost!. Isar Aerospace is also expanding its launch infrastructure, constructing a launch complex in Nova Scotia, Canada, in addition to its current site in Norway, and nearing completion of a large production facility for launch vehicles in Europe.
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Isar Aerospace, a European commercial space company, successfully launched its second mission, "Onward and Upward," from Andøya Space in Norway, deploying payloads into orbit. This achievement marks the first time a commercial European company has delivered satellites to orbit, providing a new launch alternative for the global space industry.