German Start-up Rocket Launch: ‘Beginning of a New Era’

From Norway’s Andøya Space Center, German start-up Isar Aerospace launched its Spectrum rocket on Saturday, the first privately built European rocket to reach orbit from Europe.

• The “Onward and Upward” mission carried and deployed five small satellites into orbit.

This is one giant leap toward European space independence. And that will be another step toward transforming Germany into a great military power.

• Isar stated that it currently has another five rockets in the works and is aiming to reach 40 launches per year.

The launch caught the attention of top German and European officials:

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday it marked the “beginning of a new era.”
• Andrius Kubilius, the EU’s Defense and Space commissioner, stated the Continent’s “independent access to space just got a major boost.”
• The German Ministry for Research, Technology and Space called it a “milestone” that shows Germany’s “innovative strength and technical expertise.”

This does mark the “beginning of a new era.” Germany has big plans for space, and its ability to execute those plans is increasing.

• Handelsblatt reported in July that the German Army has secret plans to launch between 1,000 and 1,200 spy satellites in the coming years.
• Last year, the German government budgeted $40 billion to militarize space through 2030.

Power in space means power over the surface of the Earth. Satellites provide missile warning and defense systems, the ability to analyze the military movements of enemies, and secure messaging systems. They are a big reason for American dominance.

• Matching this ability—or developing space capabilities for attacking this capability—can dramatically change the balance of power, especially with the United States heavily dependent on satellite and other information networks.

Germany wants to become a major military power again. That means it must develop strong, independent satellite systems. Saturday’s launch is a step in that direction.

To see how this will impact your life and why you should watch Germany’s ambitions in space, read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches Europe’s Push Toward a Unified Military.”