Launch site in the North Sea ?: German Mini-SpaceX starts rocket construction

It shouldn't go to the moon and Mars for the time being – but the rockets from the Bavarian startup Isar Aerospace should reach space as early as 2021. The almost 30 meter long missile is already being produced. If German industry has its way, the North Sea could soon play a role.

Private companies can launch rockets into space not only in the USA – also in Germany. In any case, the Bavarian start-up Isar Aerospace is planning the first flight into earth orbit in the coming year, as confirmed by co-founder and CEO Daniel Metzler. Now the production of the rockets begins in the halls in Ottobrunn. The missiles should be 27 meters long. However, this makes them not even half the size of the "Falcon 9" from the US company SpaceX.

However, the rocket called "Spectrum" is only supposed to bring a payload of up to 1200 kilograms into low earth orbits, such as satellites. However, this gives you the most powerful privately financed rocket in Europe, said Metzler. He sees the advantage of his company over large established providers primarily in flexibility and low costs. You can offer rocket launches within weeks or months, he said. It also helps that the relatively small rocket can be transported relatively easily by truck.

The start-up, which now has 100 employees, is privately financed. In the last financing round in December 2019, it raised 15 million euros according to its own information. Another round is on the agenda this year. Investors also include Bulent Altan, former vice president of US space company SpaceX from Elon Musk.

The rockets are supposed to start in Europe. It is not yet clear where exactly. We are in contact with half a dozen possible starting places, said Metzler. If the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI) has its way, there could be another option in Europe in the medium term: The Ministry of Economic Affairs is examining a corresponding concept from the association, as it has confirmed. The BDI concept provides for a launch site for small rockets in the North Sea – a mobile launch platform in the form of a private-sector operator model with state support. "A German launch platform is technically feasible, strategically and economically sensible," says a strategy paper.

First North Sea launch in two years?

According to the association, the concept could be implemented within two years. The realization is a political decision and not a technical question. A subsidy for the initial costs in the initial phase is required from the federal government. A German launch site should be open to all European and international partners. Space travel is of central importance for the entire German industry, it says in the paper. In the digital age, it is the key to future technologies such as autonomous driving and Industry 4.0. Thanks to miniaturization, satellites are getting smaller and smaller, and this development is also changing the need for launch vehicles. "In the future there will be a mix of large, medium and small missiles."

According to the paper, there are three private manufacturers of so-called microlaunchers in Germany, which should come onto the market in 2021/22. One of them is Isar Aerospace. However, none of the three companies has a contractual starting place in Europe, it is said. Economics Minister Peter Altmaier from the CDU had already shown an open mind for the construction of a German spaceport last year.

. (tagsToTranslate) Economy (t) Launch site (t) North Sea (t) German (t) Mini-SpaceX (t) Raketenbau