ISAR Aerospace

Isar Aerospace is a German aerospace company founded in March 2018 as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich by Daniel Metzler (CEO), Josef Fleischmann (CTO), and Markus Brandl (Head of Combustion), who met during their studies at TUM. Based in Ottobrunn near Munich, the company is named after the Isar River that flows through Munich. ISAR Aerospace represents Germany's entry into the competitive commercial launch market, aiming to provide dedicated, cost-effective launch services for small to medium satellites. The company's Spectrum rocket is a two-stage, liquid-fueled launch vehicle designed to deliver 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Standing 28 meters tall with a 2-meter diameter, Spectrum is powered by ISAR's proprietary Aquila engines—nine in the first stage and one in the second stage. The company manufactures approximately 80% of the rocket in-house, leveraging Munich's strong technology sector and aerospace expertise. ISAR Aerospace achieved unicorn status in June 2025 with a valuation exceeding $1 billion, supported by €150 million in convertible bond financing. Despite experiencing an anomaly during their first launch attempt on March 30, 2025 (where Spectrum was terminated 30 seconds into flight and fell back to Earth), the company has continued securing contracts including agreements with the European Space Agency in August 2025. With a workforce grown to over 400 employees from nearly 50 nations, ISAR Aerospace is positioned as a key European NewSpace company working toward reliable orbital launch capability from Andøya Space Port in Norway.