Satellite launch service company Isar Aerospace and R-Space have signed a launch service agreement as part of the European Space Agency (ESA) Marketplace program.
Under the agreement, Isar Aerospace will launch two R-Space satellites aboard of its ‘Spectrum’ launch vehicle in 2026 from Andøya Spaceport. Further flights are planned for 2026 and 2027, underscoring both companies’ commitment to long-term collaboration.
The R-Space satellites will perform on-orbit demonstrations for customers during these missions, facilitating the validation of next-generation satellite technologies and services in space.
This cooperation is part of the ESA Marketplace initiative under the ScaleUp program, which accelerates the deployment of new technologies and stimulates the growth of the European space ecosystem.
Stella Guillen, Chief Commercial Officer of Isar Aerospace, said, “As the need for launch capacity continues to surge, Isar Aerospace is committed to enabling nations and industries with scalable space capabilities.”
Carsten Scharlemann, CEO and founder of R-Space, said, “Isar Aerospace is the ideal partner to help R-Space provide fast and flexible in-orbit demonstration services to our customers. Together, we look forward to an exciting partnership and many successful launches in the years ahead.”
Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of the ESA Ventures and Financing Team, said, “The ESA Marketplace fuels commercial growth by connecting industry leaders through strategic partnerships. Helping two European companies in the face of Isar Aerospace and R-Space scale their business in a joint effort is a testament to the impact we aim to create.”
About Isar Aerospace
Isar Aerospace offers launch services for transporting small and medium-sized satellites and satellite constellations into Earth orbit. The launch vehicles used to transport these satellites are developed, manufactured, and tested almost entirely in-house. Headquartered near Munich, Germany, Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 and has grown to over 400 employees from more than 50 nations, working across 5 international locations. Private funding from international investors provides strong backing for the company’s pioneering approach to scale and industrialize launch vehicle production through vertical integration.
About R-Space
R-Space is an emerging start-up dedicated to transforming how space technologies are demonstrated and validated in orbit. Through its IOD/IOV (In-Orbit Demonstration/Validation) services, R-Space significantly accelerates time-to-orbit, enabling a faster path to market readiness. This reduction in development and deployment cycles provides customers with a decisive advantage in achieving market success.