German company becomes first in Europe to launch fully commercial orbital rocket

"We achieved within a few years what had taken the European space industry decades before."

German firm Isar Aerospace has placed its Spectrum rocket into low Earth orbit on its second attempt, becoming the first European company to do so with its own launcher and hitting the first milestone in ESA's European Launcher Challenge.

Bavarian startup celebrates Europe's first private-sector orbital rocket launch  euractiv.com

Isar Aerospace says its 28-metre-long Spectrum rocket blasted off into space from Andøya spaceport in Arctic Norway.

German rocket reaches space as Europe enters satellite launch race  reuters.com