German rocket builder Isar Aerospace has signed a launch services agreement with Japanese in-space logistics company ElevationSpace, securing a Spectrum rocket flight for the AOBA re-entry demonstrator.
Founded in 2018, Isar Aerospace is developing its two-stage Spectrum rocket, which will be capable of delivering payloads of up to 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. The company has successfully completed static fire tests of the first flight-ready first-stage and second-stage, clearing the way for an inaugural launch. The only remaining hurdle is an outstanding launch license from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, as the rocket will initially be launched from the Andøya Spaceport in Norway.
As the company prepares for Spectrum’s inaugural flight, it has secured a new customer for the rocket. On 4 March, ElevationSpace announced that it had booked a Spectrum flight scheduled for the second half of 2026. The rocket will carry the company’s AOBA re-entry demonstrator, which will serve as an initial test of the company’s ELS-R “space utilization and recovery” vehicle.
According to ElevationSpace, the key reasons for selecting Spectrum were its flexible launch schedule and its ability to inject the AOBA demonstrator directly into the target orbit. The company also cited Isar’s advanced technological capabilities and reliability, “showcased through their highly automated and vertically integrated production process.”
Once launched, the 200-kilogram AOBA vehicle will remain in orbit for approximately six months. The re-entry capsule will then be deployed and returned to Earth for recovery.
In a brief statement on Twitter, Isar referred to ElevationSpace as the company’s “first customer in the Asian market.” To date, Isar has secured a number of commercial contracts with Airbus Defence and Space, OroraTech, EnduroSat, Astrocast, D-Orbit, Exotrail, and Spaceflight Inc. It is also carrying payloads selected by the German aerospace agency DLR aboard the first two Spectrum flights as part of the agency’s Microlauncher Competition.
