Exolaunch, a Berlin-based global leader in launch mission management, satellite integration and deployment services, successfully integrated 5 customer satellites ahead of their launch on Isar Aerospace's “Onward and Upward” mission aboard the 'Spectrum' vehicle scheduled for NET March 19, 2026, lifting-off from Andøya spaceport in Norway.
This mission will mark the second flight of Isar Aerospace's 'Spectrum', a significant step for Germany in delivering independent access to space for Europe and allied nations. Exolaunch is honored to support this remarkable effort by providing Isar Aerospace's customers with launch mission management, environmental testing, satellite integration, global shipping, and satellite deployment services using its flight-proven EXOpod Nova deployment system for the following satellites:
Following the successful integration of all five satellites at Exolaunch's Berlin headquarters together with the satellite developers and Isar Aerospace's Mission Management team, the loaded EXOpod Nova deployer with satellites were safely delivered to Andøya spaceport for the final integration with the 'Spectrum' launch vehicle.
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Download free sample pages More informationThe “Onward and Upward” mission is supported by ESA's Boost! Programme. Through Boost! Isar Aerospace won the first Microlauncher Competition of the DLR German Space Agency, which resulted in the selection of the payloads onboard the upcoming flight.
“European access to space is experiencing a resurgence in sovereign launch capability and Isar Aerospace's performance under the ESA's Boost! programme is one of several upcoming demonstrations of the growing momentum behind European launch vehicles,” said Dr. Robert Sproles, Chief Executive Officer at Exolaunch. “Exolaunch is proud to have supported the winners of the DLR Microlauncher competition, and we wish Isar and the satellite teams every success with the upcoming launch.”
The second launch of Spectrum, just twelve months after its first one, which underscored Isar Aerospace's landmark achievement in designing, building, and launching a vehicle from continental Europe, aims at validating the vehicle's critical systems under operational conditions.
“This mission has been a remarkable journey pushing the boundaries of European launch innovation. It was a great pleasure to navigate the complexities of this first-of-its-kind mission together with their dedicated team,” said Nadine Weidner, Senior Mission Manager, European Launch Lead at Exolaunch. “We are looking forward to seeing 'Spectrum' go onward and upward and to many more missions that await ahead.”
A German company itself, Exolaunch was founded over a decade ago as a spin-off from the Technical University of Berlin. Today, the company has become a premier launch infrastructure provider and is now proud to support the ride to orbit of TU Berlin's satellite, along with other payloads, building on its roots to advance technology and collaboration in Europe's space ecosystem.
Through delivering the satellite integration and deployment capabilities for Isar Aerospace's historic mission, Exolaunch got qualified to launch aboard 'Spectrum', extending its key experience in qualifying payloads and systems and rapid integration. Leveraging its extensive heritage of 675 satellites launched across 42 missions to date, the company enters 2026 poised for another record-breaking year, with plans to deploy several hundred satellites on more than 20 missions globally.
