Isar Aerospace Secures Launch Agreements With ESA

Isar Aerospace has secured two launch service agreements with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission as part of the Flight Ticket Initiative. The contracts mark the first launch agreements between a privately funded European launch service provider and European institutions, setting a precedent for future institutional launches aboard Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle ‘Spectrum’.

Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace, said: “Isar Aerospace delivers sovereign space capabilities for Europe and its partners. These agreements demonstrate the trust European institutions have in our launch services. It marks a key step in strengthening Europe’s independent space access and sets the foundation for future institutional missions under other programs like the European Launcher Challenge.”

The agreement covers the launch of two missions: The ‘CASSINI’ mission, developed by the Dutch company ISISpace, and the ‘Tom & Jerry’ mission by French company Infinite Orbits. Both missions will be launched from Isar Aerospace’s dedicated launch pad at Andøya Spaceport in Norway and are scheduled from 2026 onwards.

The Flight Ticket Initiative, a joint program by the European Commission through Horizon Europe IOD-IOV and ESA’s Boost!, is designed to co-fund European launch services selected on a competitive basis to demonstrate and qualify in-orbit technologies.