Isar Aerospace launches Spectrum rocket into orbit from Norway, marking Europe's first private orbital launch from continental Europe

Germany's Isar Aerospace has launched a rocket into orbit from Norway as Europe races to boost its ability to economically send satellites into space independently of the United States.

Isar's 28 metre-long two-stage Spectrum rocket blasted off from Andoya spaceport, north of the Arctic Circle, the company said.

"We're in orbit! And just made European history: This is the first time a privately developed rocket reached orbit from continental Europe," the company said on X.

About 10 minutes into the mission dubbed "Onward and Upward", the video transmission cut out after the rocket exceeded maximum range for connection.

"Germany has spaceflight capabilities," the Ministry for Research, Technology and Space posted on X, hailing a "milestone that impressively demonstrates our country's innovative strength and technical expertise".

European breakthrough in 'turbulent times'

The event was a breakthrough for the European launch industry, giving the continent better access to space, Norway's Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth said in a statement.

"The fact that we can now launch satellites from Andoeya strengthens Norwegian and European security in the turbulent times we live in," she said.

The launch followed months of delays, caused by either technical or safety issues.

It was Isar's second launch, coming 18 months after the company's first rocket plunged into the sea and exploded in a fiery spectacle shortly after take-off from the same site.

Once ready for serial production, the Spectrum will be tasked with sending civilian and military satellites into low-Earth orbit a few hundred kilometres above the ground.

The Spectrum can haul about 1 tonne of payload, and Isar says its plant near Munich will be able to make more than 30 of the rockets per year.

While France's Arianespace has long operated from French Guiana, Europe is betting on competition between Isar and other companies to more cheaply launch satellites in future, as Elon Musk's SpaceX has done in the United States.

"We need capacity. We need independence," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in March while visiting the Andoya facility with Norway's prime minister.

"For far too long we have relied on other delivery systems and other nations around the world."

Mr Merz spoke at the International Aerospace Exhibition in Berlin, held in June.

"Space is not only crucial for our security, but it is also becoming an increasingly important part of our economic sphere," he said.

Europe seeks to build autonomy

The launch came at a time US President Donald Trump has badly shaken European trust in the NATO alliance, with Europe worrying about its dependence on America, including in space launch capabilities.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced a €35 billion ($56 billion) drive by 2030 to build out space capacity.

Global players in the satellite launch market include Elon Musk's SpaceX, which launches from the US, and French ArianeGroup, which uses a spaceport in South America's French Guiana.

SpaceX, a company spanning rockets, satellites and AI, in June listed on the Nasdaq exchange in a record initial public offering.

Sweden, with its Esrange launch site, and Britain with its SaxaVord Spaceport in the Scottish Shetland Islands, are the nearest rivals to the Norwegian site, all of which aim to give Europe greater autonomy in space flights.

Isar last week said it had secured about €200 million ($323 million) from the European Space Agency to help fund development of new rockets and expand its testing and launch infrastructure.

The German company is also developing a second launch site in Canada.