Isar Aerospace: The German company that is set to the first commercial rocket launch from Europe

Preparations are undergoing a rocket test in Norway that can make history and give Europe greater independence from the market leader in Orbital launches, the United States.

Who is behind the rocket launch?

The company that developed the new rocket, called Spectrum, is German-based Isar spacecraft. Spectrum is 28 meters high, composed of two internships and uses oxygen and propane as a propellant. Isar Aerospace says the goal of the test flight that will not carry any payload is “to collect as much data and experience as possible”. The company told New scientist That its staff was too busy preparing for his test flight for an interview.

Where and when does the launch take place?

The launch takes place at Andøya Space Center in Norway and has been a grant for permission to move on by the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Isar Aerospace says it plans to launch on March 24 between 7 p.m. 12.30 and 15.30 this if the weather permits.

If successful, the launch will be the first flight of an orbital launch vehicle from continental Europe, excluding Russia.

Does Europe already have other launching companies?

It does and some are quite established. The European market leader, Arianespace, was founded 45 years ago and performed launch in collaboration with the European space agency and the French national aerospace agency, CNES. But these launches take place in French Guiana, a French territory located in South America, and Rockets Self – Vega C and Ariane 6 – are built by other companies.

In addition to Isar Aerospace, there is a link of European start-ups that appear to start, the Spain’s Zero 2 Infinity and Germany’s Rocket Factory Augsburg and Hyimot included.

Why does Des Europe need its own lifting rockets?

Davide Amato at Imperial College London says there are many reasons why there may be demand for smaller European launch providers. First, the logistics of making a satellite in Europe and then launching it in Europe – rather than having to send it halfway around the world – would be simpler and cheaper.

It would also be simple to have small, cheap launch vehicles that could put a single satellite in orbit, rather than having to share a trip with several other missions that everyone might want to reach another height course.

There is the current political situation. Businesses and countries may not want to trust US launch providers, especially SpaceX, considering its unpredictable CEO, Elon Musk and his links to the Trump administration.

These concerns were suggested by Isar Aerospace CEO Daniel Metzler in a recent station: “In today’s geopolic climate, our first test flight is about much more than a rocket launch.

Is Norway a good place to launch?

Rockets, which are launched close to the equator, get a lift. Thanks to the spin of the planet, they begin to travel much faster compared to the center of the earth than rockets that are launched near the poles.

Andøya Space Center is located at 69 ° North, so the Earth’s rotational speed is predominantly weaker there in French Guyana. But this is not important for high -inclusive circuits: those who create a greater angle with the equator.

Isar Aerospace says it will be able to put 1500 kg of payloads up to 30 times a year in orbital inclinations from 90 ° to 110.6 °. This will include Sol-Synchronous Circuit-it, which always passes a giving point at the same local time-which are ideal for spy and weather atellites. Isar already has a contract to put Arctic Sea’s satellite monitoring in just such a course for the Norwegian Space Agency.

The launch site is also reasonably free of air and marine traffic, and it benefits from all necessary for small launch vehicles. “It will be more limited in terms of what you can achieve, but it still is, I think, reasonable,” says Sayo.

Will Isar get success?

Amato says Isar Aerospace could follow SpaceX away from the traditional space method for extensive design and cautious testing for a more Silicon Valley “Test, Fail, Improving” strategy. “I would expect failure,” says Amato. “Which is not claim bad.”

“Now the question is, can you come to a design that survives, and it is reliable before you run out of money?” He says. “It’s the race. You are fighting for your investors, Basal.”