20.11.2025

Texas-based small satellite launch aggregator SEOPS has signed a launch services agreement with Isar Aerospace for a dedicated flight aboard the company’s Spectrum rocket.

Isar Aerospace launched the inaugural flight of its Spectrum rocket in March, which ultimately failed when the vehicle exploded just metres from the launch pad. The company is now preparing for Spectrum’s second flight and announced earlier this month that both stages had been shipped to its launch facility in Norway.

On 18 November, the company announced that SEOPS had purchased a dedicated mission aboard its Spectrum rocket, scheduled to launch in 2028. The US-based launch aggregator has previously flown payloads aboard Northrop Grumman’s Antares rockets and, since the rocket’s retirement, has operated exclusively on SpaceX rideshare missions.

“LaunchLock Prime was built to give customers reliable, flexible access to launch capacity tailored to their mission needs,” said Executive Vice President at SEOPS Evan Hoyt. “Securing Spectrum capacity with Isar Aerospace, driven by customer demand, demonstrates how we deliver on that promise, giving our customers greater control and choice in how and where their missions reach orbit.”

The SEOPS LaunchLock Prime offering is a multi-launch framework that allows customers, under a single contract, to access pre-secured launch capacity across multiple dedicated or rideshare missions, with flexibility in scheduling and vehicle selection.

Despite not yet having completed a successful launch, Isar Aerospace has already built a strong commercial manifest for Spectrum. In November 2022, it secured a multi-launch deal with Exotrail for flights between 2024 and 2029. Two months later, it signed a dedicated-flight agreement with Spaceflight Inc. for a 2026 launch. In March 2025, the Norwegian Space Agency selected Spectrum to launch two Arctic surveillance satellites by 2028. Then, in August 2025, Isar Aerospace secured a contract under the ESA and European Commission’s Flight Ticket Initiative for institutional missions starting in 2026.

Quelle: European Spaceflight LTD