The American launch service provider, Seops, has entered into an agreement with the German company Isar Aerospace to launch the Spectrum rocket from the Annøy Space Center in Norway in 2028. Financial details of the deal remain undisclosed. Seops plans to utilize the Spectrum launch as part of its LaunchLock Prime program, offering clients comprehensive support, including satellite integration and launch organization. This launch marks the first European launch booked under this program. According to Seops Executive Vice President Evan Hoyt, this decision was made in response to growing customer demand for greater control and options regarding the means and origins of their missions reaching orbit.
Previously, Seops primarily used rideshares on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets. A year ago, the company announced the purchase of a dedicated Falcon 9 launch to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), scheduled for 2028, also driven by significant interest from commercial and government clients. Last year, Seops announced a partnership with Dutch mission integrator Axient Systems to create a “one-stop shop” for European payloads, with the Spectrum launch being integrated into this offering.
The Isar Aerospace Spectrum rocket completed its first test flight in March. Due to loss of orientation control, the flight was terminated approximately half a minute after liftoff, and the rocket fell into the water near the launch pad. The German company is currently preparing for a second Spectrum launch, with the rocket already delivered to the Annøy Space Center for pre-launch tests. The launch date has not yet been announced.
Stella Gillen, Chief Commercial Officer at Isar Aerospace, noted that global demand for European launches continues to grow as countries and industries recognize the strategic importance of independent space access. Isar Aerospace is also one of the five “pre-selected contenders” for participation in the European Launcher Challenge, a European Space Agency (ESA) program aimed at supporting new launch companies through contracts or funding for rocket upgrades. ESA member states will decide which companies receive up to 169 million EUR ($182 million) each.
