I have written several times on Just Me about the space economy. About how satellites, launch services and new space companies are changing the way we think about access to orbit. For a long time, however, one question remained: could Europe really build its own commercial path into space?
This week, we got a very convincing answer. A German company called Isar Aerospace (https://isaraerospace.com/) has achieved something that feels like a turning point: its Spectrum rocket successfully reached orbit and deployed payloads during its second flight. The mission, called “Onward and Upward”, lifted off from Andøya Space in Norway (https://andoyaspace.no/) and made Isar Aerospace the first European commercial space company to successfully deliver satellites into orbit.
Not just another rocket launch
Of course, rockets reaching space is nothing new. Humanity has been doing that for decades. But this is different. For Europe, access to space has traditionally depended heavily on large institutional programmes. Rockets like Ariane have played a crucial role, but the world of space is changing quickly. Thousands of smaller satellites are being launched, companies want more flexible access to orbit, and commercial players are becoming increasingly important.
This is exactly the market where companies like Isar Aerospace are trying to make a difference. The idea is simple: make launching satellites more flexible, more scalable and more accessible. And that requires something more than just building a rocket. It requires building an entire industrial ecosystem.
The machine behind the machine
One thing I find particularly interesting about Isar Aerospace is that the company is not only developing the Spectrum launch vehicle. It is also building the manufacturing capabilities needed to produce rockets at scale. The company follows a highly integrated approach: designing, manufacturing and testing large parts of the rocket itself instead of relying completely on external suppliers. The next Spectrum vehicles are already in production, and Isar Aerospace is working towards a production facility capable of manufacturing dozens of rockets per year.
This reminds me of something I wrote earlier about European industrial ambitions (see here: https://justme.website/digital-autonomy/building-robots-is-not-enough/). The future is not only about making the final product. It is also about owning the knowledge, machines and processes behind that product. Whether we are talking about semiconductors, humanoid robots or rockets, the same principle appears again and again: the real strategic advantage often sits in the manufacturing capability.
Learning from failure
Another reason this story is interesting is that it shows how innovation actually works. The first Spectrum flight in 2025 was not a complete success. The rocket lifted off and cleared the launch pad, but the mission ended after a short flight. Instead of treating this as a failure, Isar Aerospace used the data to improve the next vehicle. That is how innovation always works. Test. Learn. Improve. Try again.
Space is probably one of the clearest examples of an industry where you cannot simply design everything perfectly on paper. Real-world testing is unavoidable.The second flight showed that this approach worked. Spectrum completed key flight milestones, reached orbital velocity and successfully separated its payloads.
Why Europe needs this
There is also a broader strategic dimension. Space has become critical infrastructure. Satellites support communication, navigation, climate monitoring, agriculture, defence and countless other services. Having independent access to orbit is increasingly seen as part of technological sovereignty. This does not mean Europe should build everything alone. International cooperation remains essential. But having European companies that can provide launch services from European soil gives Europe more options. So this is about technological and digital autonomy as well.
The global space industry is becoming more competitive every year. Companies in the United States, China and other regions are investing heavily. Europe needs companies that can move quickly, experiment and build new capabilities. Isar Aerospace is one example of this new generation of European space companies. Fortunately there are more.
The space economy is becoming real
What I like about this story is that it connects technology, industry and imagination. Space is no longer only about astronauts, giant government programmes and spectacular missions. It is also about factories, software, automation, supply chains and entrepreneurship. A small company from Germany launching a rocket from a small launch site in Norway may sound like science fiction. But this is exactly what the emerging space economy looks like.