Tag: spectrum
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Isar Aerospace Spectrum Rocket Explodes on Debut Launch
What happened to Isar Aerospace’s first Spectrum rocket launch? Isar Aerospace’s inaugural Spectrum rocket launch ended in catastrophic failure on May 4, 2026, when the vehicle exploded shortly after liftoff from its European test site. The German startup’s debut orbital attempt lasted less than 60 seconds before the 28-meter tall rocket broke apart in a…
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FCC Dismisses SpaceX Spectrum Bids as D2D Market Consolidates
Why Did the FCC Block SpaceX’s Satellite Spectrum Challenge? The Federal Communications Commission has dismissed challenges by SpaceX and other companies seeking access to Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum, effectively protecting incumbent operators’ rights to frequencies increasingly valuable for Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity. The FCC ruling comes as the D2D market rapidly consolidates, with spectrum rights…
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Launch Preview: Russia to debut Soyuz-5; Falcon 9 and Atlas V to launch internet satellites
The United States, Russia, China, New Zealand, and Norway are all set to host launches during another busy week of spaceflight. SpaceX is set to launch three missions from its Florida and California launch facilities, while the United Launch Alliance is scheduled to launch Amazon Leo satellites on its Atlas V rocket toward the end…
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Launch Preview: Falcon 9, Spectrum, Electron to launch during busy week of launches
Another busy launch manifest is scheduled for this week, with nine launches expected from various providers and launch sites around the world. As usual, SpaceX is expected to dominate the week with five missions, all of which are Starlink missions. Internationally, Rocket Lab is set to launch an Earth observation satellite on Electron from New…
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Launch Preview: Falcon 9 set to launch two missions from California, Isar to attempt second launch of Spectrum
The upcoming week will see seven rocket launches from six different launch sites across the globe. SpaceX has two Falcon 9 launches scheduled this week; both are Starlink missions launching from SpaceX’s California launch site. Blue Origin is also expected to fly New Shepard’s 17th crewed mission on Thursday. Internationally, China will launch two missions, while…
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Launch Preview: Launches from China, U.S., and Norway scheduled for upcoming week
Eight orbital launch attempts are scheduled for this week, with SpaceX and Chinese launches comprising a majority of the launch manifest. SpaceX is scheduled to launch two batches of Starlink satellites into the constellation’s Group 6 shell, as well as a batch of reconnaissance satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. Four rockets will launch from…
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Europe’s launch contenders revealed as Themis rolls toward reusability tests
The European Space Agency (ESA) is advancing on its ambitions for future space transportation. This week, the agency has shortlisted five companies in the first stage of its European Launcher Challenge, aimed at igniting competition as well as increasing the availability of launch services in Europe. Meanwhile, the agency’s restartable Prometheus engine has recently completed…
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Isar Aerospace launches Spectrum, fails early in first stage flight
Isar Aerospace, based near Munich, Germany, made the first-ever launch attempt of its Spectrum two-stage rocket on Sunday, March 30, at 10:30 UTC from the Orbital Launch Pad at the Andøya Space Center in Norway. An earlier attempt on Monday, March 24, was scrubbed due to high winds, and a second attempt on Saturday, March…
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Launch Roundup: Spectrum, Electron, and Falcon 9 fly missions
This week included three launches scheduled for Wednesday and the third Electron rocket to fly within 12 days. SpaceX kicked off the week with the launch of a classified mission on Monday. Two Starlink missions also flew alongside two others from China this week. Firefly Aerospace postponed the sixth flight of its Alpha rocket, following…
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Isar Aerospace completes static fires of Spectrum rocket ahead of first European launch
Isar Aerospace has announced the completion of static fires on both stage one and stage two of its new Spectrum rocket. The company now says the only thing standing between them and a launch is approval and licensing from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). On February 14, 2025, nine of the company’s Aquila engines,…