German aerospace startup Isar Aerospace has announced the conclusion of a launch contract with the Italian company D-Orbit. As part of the agreement, the rocket built by Isar Aerospace will launch the ION satellite tug into orbit.
Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018. The main activity of the enterprise is the development of a two-stage Spectrum rocket. It will be able to launch up to 700 kg of payload into sun-synchronous orbits. The launch site of the new carrier will be the Anneya spaceport, located on the Norwegian island of the same name. In 2021, Isar Aerospace signed a contract for a 20-year lease of the launch pad.
As for D-Orbit, it specializes in space logistics services. The ION satellite tug, created by its specialists, is designed to launch payloads of customers into specified orbits. The device is capable of carrying several small satellites on its board.
Isar Aerospace and D-Orbit did not disclose the amount of the transaction and details of the upcoming mission. It is only reported that the launch of ION will take place no earlier than 2023.
Last year, Isar Aerospace also received an 11-millionth award from ESA and the German Center for Aviation and Astronautics. In return, it provided the German government with the opportunity to place up to 150 kg of payload on board the first two Spectrum rockets.
According to https://spacenews.com
Follow us on Twitter to get the most interesting space news in time
https://twitter.com/ust_magazine
