Isar Aerospace to launch German-built Planet imaging satellite
Isar Aerospace won a contract from Planet's German subsidiary to launch an imaging satellite, demonstrating an end-to-end space capability for the country.
Isar Aerospace announced July 2 it signed a contract with Planet Labs Germany for the launch of a Pelican high-resolution imaging satellite on a Spectrum rocket. The launch will take place in the next year, perhaps as soon as late 2026, from Andøya Spaceport in Norway.
The companies said the contract, which includes options for additional launches, is intended to demonstrate the ability of German companies to build and launch spacecraft, part of a broader push in Germany and Europe to build up sovereign space capabilities. Isar builds its rockets at its Munich headquarters, while Planet is establishing a Pelican production line in Berlin.
"Germany has set out an ambitious space agenda. Planet and Isar Aerospace are responding to the moment and delivering a first for the country: both satellite and rocket built in Germany," Martin Polak, managing director of Planet Labs Germany, said in a statement announcing the deal.
The German government announced last September its intent to spend 35 billion euros ($40 billion) on military space over the next five years. Since then, companies in Germany and beyond have been working to demonstrate their capabilities.
Polak said that the plan to launch a Pelican in the next year is intended to showcase "our agile aerospace approach and supporting rapidly evolving national priorities across security, resilience and civil applications."
"This collaboration underscores the strength and growing strategic importance of the German and European space ecosystem," said Stella Guillen, chief commercial officer of Isar Aerospace, in a statement. "Europe now has an unparalleled opportunity to leverage this ecosystem to build resilient space capabilities and unlock its potential for security and economic growth."
The contract announcement did not provide an update on the status of Spectrum itself. Isar Aerospace had planned to conduct the second flight of that small launch vehicle in January, after the first flight failed shortly after liftoff in March 2025. However, technical issues, as well as a range violation that scrubbed a launch attempt in March, repeatedly delayed the flight.
When Isar announced a new 270 million euro funding round June 9, the company said it was planning a new launch attempt between June 15 and 21. However, the company called off a June 15 attempt a few hours before the scheduled liftoff.
"We are still detecting off-nominal behavior in the vehicle's fluid systems," the company posted on social media about the postponement. "The teams are analyzing the new data to isolate the root cause." Isar has not announced a new launch date.
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