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A few years ago, this order was still unthinkable: Airbus booked a rocket launch from the young Munich-based company Isar Aerospace from 2023, although their small launch vehicle has never flown.

For the 29-year-old Isar Aerospace boss Daniel Metzler, the order means a kind of accolade by the renowned company.

"That is extremely important for us," says Metzler in an interview with WELT.

After all, Airbus demands high standards as a customer and takes a close look at the technology.

“If we didn't offer a good product, they wouldn't buy from us,” argues the young entrepreneur.

It is the first contract awarded by a large European space company to a completely privately financed rocket company.

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The Airbus decision is indeed remarkable for several reasons.

With the order, a currently still small, future competitor will be established for the more powerful, large European Ariane or Vega missiles.

Airbus obviously sees Isar Aerospace as an addition.

The Munich start-up, founded in 2018, positions itself as more flexible and cheaper than transports with large rockets.

With the large Ariane rockets, smaller satellites can usually only be launched as flyers and do not have their own appointment.

The order is also evidence of the upheaval in the industry.

More and more young companies with new rockets or satellite projects are entering the market.

Germany plays a key role in new missiles.

Three start-ups are currently developing new small carriers.

Up to a ton in space

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In addition to Isar Aerospace Technologies, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) from the Bremen-based OHB Group and HyImpulse Technologies from Baden-Württemberg.

All three companies have not yet launched their rockets and are currently trying to attract customers with reference to the great flexibility and low launch costs.

Isar Aerospace also refers to its own engine manufacture.

The first completely self-produced engine recently rolled off the production line and will be tested shortly, says Metzler.

The venture capital company Airbus Ventures, which invests in future projects, has a stake of around ten percent in Isar Aerospace.

Other investors include Bulent Altan, ex-manager of Elon Musk's US space company SpaceX.

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As Metzler says, the Airbus space division has booked the complete launch of the rocket, which would then carry up to a ton into space.

There is also an option for further starts.

It is one or more earth observation satellites.

The price for the rocket launch is not mentioned.

The rocket will either take off from a Norwegian island, where Isar Aerospace is currently building its own launch platform, which should be ready for use in mid-2022.

Alternatively, the rocket could also be detonated at the European spaceport in French Guiana.

So Airbus has flexibility.

“We follow the customer,” says Metzler.

Financed through to the first start

The start for Airbus will not be the premiere flight of the Munich Spectrum rocket from Isar Aerospace.

If Airbus uses the 2023 date, there could already be three or four launches beforehand.

Metzler expects the first launch in mid-2022, when the launch platform in Norway is ready.

"We will be flying small payloads from the very first start," says Metzler, possibly in cooperation with the German Aerospace Center DLR.

Metzler speaks of great interest in the rocket.

If all inquiries from customers were actually orders, it would be impossible to manage.

Isar Aerospace itself speaks of customer inquiries with an order value of over half a billion euros for its rocket, which, depending on the height of the orbit, is supposed to transport up to 1.2 tons into space.

Metzler neither wants to confirm nor deny that Airbus is the first permanent customer for his Munich rocket company.

"There will be some news in the next few weeks," he says.

In any case, it is the first customer to buy a complete take-off and not just a part-flight option.

The Airbus contract helps attract more funds for the company, says Metzler.

The company is currently fully financed until the first start.

SpaceX rocket launch - satellites from Dresden on board

Elon Musk's SpaceX company is making a new attempt to launch dozens of small satellites into space with the Falcon-9.

A satellite from the Institute for Aerospace Technology at TU Dresden called SOMP2b is also on board.

Source: WORLD