German launch provider Isar Aerospace is ramping up its infrastructure to support faster development and higher launch rates for its Spectrum orbital rocket. The company has partnered with SSC Space to open a second dedicated test site at the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, northern Sweden.
This new purpose-built facility significantly boosts testing capacity. It can handle more than 30 Aquila engine firings per month and perform complete integrated stage acceptance tests. These full-stage firings allow Isar to qualify entire rocket stages before they are shipped for launch, reducing risks and speeding up the qualification process.
The expansion complements Isar’s existing test operations at Esrange and aligns with ongoing work to outfit a new production facility near Munich. Together, these investments support the company’s vertically integrated model—controlling design, manufacturing, testing, and operations in-house—to deliver more reliable and frequent launches for European customers.
“Scaling reliable access to space requires not only advanced launch vehicle design but also the right infrastructure to support rapid development and production,” said Can Araz, Vice President Spectrum at Isar Aerospace. “With our second test facility at Esrange, we are unlocking new capabilities and accelerating our progress… supporting our ambition to make space access truly scalable.”
Mats Tyni, Director Business Development at SSC Space, emphasized the strategic value: “We are proud to deepen our long-standing partnership with Isar Aerospace… Together, we are building the infrastructure that will enable a new generation of launch services and support the growing needs of the European space market.”
Esrange Space Center already plays a key role in sounding rocket and balloon operations and is evolving into a hub for small-satellite orbital launches from mainland Europe. By concentrating engine and stage testing at this location, Isar can maintain tight control over critical qualification steps while preparing for orbital flights from sites such as Andøya Space Center in Norway.
The added testing throughput comes at an important time. Isar is preparing for the next qualification flight of Spectrum (currently targeting no earlier than mid-March 2026 after a previous attempt was scrubbed due to a pressurization valve issue). With greater capacity to iterate quickly on engines and stages, the company aims to resolve issues faster, increase reliability, and meet rising demand from satellite operators seeking independent European launch options.
This infrastructure push reinforces Isar Aerospace’s goal of industrializing small-to-medium satellite launches, making dedicated rides to orbit more accessible, predictable, and cost-effective for the growing European space sector.
