Berlin-based launch service provider Exolaunch has completed integration of five customer satellites ahead of their flight on Isar Aerospace’s upcoming “Onward and Upward” mission. The launch is scheduled for no earlier than March 19, 2026, from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport aboard the Spectrum launch vehicle.
This mission represents the second flight of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket, marking continued progress toward establishing independent European space access. Exolaunch is providing comprehensive mission management services including environmental testing, satellite integration, global shipping, and deployment using its flight-proven EXOpod Nova deployment system.
The five satellites integrated at Exolaunch’s Berlin headquarters include: CyBEEsat from Technische Universität Berlin (Germany), TRISAT-S from University of Maribor (Slovenia), STS1 from Technische Universität Wien (Austria), Platform 6 6UXL from Endurosat (Bulgaria), and FramSat1 from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway).
Following successful integration with satellite developers and Isar Aerospace’s mission management team, the loaded EXOpod Nova deployer has been delivered to Andøya for final vehicle integration. The mission receives support from ESA’s Boost! Programme, through which Isar Aerospace won the DLR German Space Agency’s first Microlauncher Competition, resulting in the selection of these payloads.
“European access to space is experiencing a resurgence in sovereign launch capability,” said Dr. Robert Sproles, Chief Executive Officer at Exolaunch. “Isar Aerospace’s performance under ESA’s Boost! programme demonstrates growing momentum behind European launch vehicles.”
This second Spectrum launch comes just twelve months after the vehicle’s debut flight, which represented a significant achievement in designing and building a launch vehicle from continental Europe. The upcoming mission aims to validate critical systems under operational conditions.
Nadine Weidner, Senior Mission Manager at Exolaunch, added: “This mission has pushed the boundaries of European launch innovation. It was a pleasure navigating the complexities of this first-of-its-kind mission together with their dedicated team.”
As a German company founded over a decade ago as a Technical University of Berlin spin-off, Exolaunch now supports its alma mater’s satellite alongside other payloads. Through this collaboration, Exolaunch has qualified to launch aboard Spectrum, extending its expertise in payload qualification and rapid integration.
With 675 satellites launched across 42 missions to date, Exolaunch enters 2026 poised for another record-breaking year, planning to deploy several hundred satellites on more than 20 missions globally.
