Isar Aerospace Attempts First-Ever Orbital Launch From European Soil With Spectrum Rocket

German startup Isar Aerospace is attempting to launch its 28-meter Spectrum rocket from Andoya Spaceport in northern Norway, aiming to become the first vehicle to reach orbit from European soil. The mission 'Onward and Upward' carries five commercial and educational cubesats. This second flight comes ten months after the first test ended in an ocean crash 30 seconds after liftoff. Success would break Europe's dependence on non-European launch providers and validate a new commercial space access pathway for the continent.