The new, purpose-built site has been developed in partnership with SSC Space and will allow Isar Aerospace to test more than 30 engines per month, alongside expanded capabilities for integrated rocket stage testing. The additional capacity is expected to accelerate development timelines and support higher production rates as demand for launch services grows.
A key feature of the new facility is a dedicated acceptance test site designed for fully integrated stage testing. This will give Isar Aerospace greater flexibility in qualifying engines and stages before flight while maintaining tight control over quality and performance.
The two Esrange test sites have been specifically tailored to Isar Aerospace’s requirements and support the company’s vertically integrated approach, which brings design, manufacturing, testing and operations largely in-house.
Isar Aerospace vice president Spectrum, Can Araz, said the expansion was critical to scaling launch operations.
“Scaling reliable access to space requires not only advanced launch vehicle design, but also the right infrastructure to support rapid development and production,” Araz said. “With our second test facility at Esrange, we are unlocking new capabilities and accelerating our progress. The expanded site will allow us to test and qualify more engines and stages than ever before, supporting our ambition to make space access truly scalable.”
He also thanked SSC Space for its support, describing the partnership as highly professional and collaborative.
SSC Space director of business development and customer operations, Mats Tyni, said the new facility strengthened Europe’s space launch ambitions.
“We are proud to deepen our longstanding partnership with Isar Aerospace as they expand their engine and stage testing capabilities at Esrange,” Tyni said. “This new facility strengthens Europe’s path towards scalable and reliable access to space and reflects the trust placed in our team’s experience in advanced rocket testing.”
SSC Space, formerly known as the Swedish Space Corporation, is a global provider of space services with more than 50 years of experience. The company employs around 750 staff worldwide and operates across satellite communications, spacecraft operations, launch services, flight testing and space engineering. Its Esrange Space Center is positioned to become a leading satellite launch site from mainland Europe and is complemented by one of the world’s largest commercial satellite ground station networks.
Founded in 2018 and headquartered near Munich, Isar Aerospace provides launch services for small and medium-sized satellites and satellite constellations. The company develops, manufactures and tests its launch vehicles almost entirely in-house and has grown to more than 400 employees from over 50 countries, operating across five international locations.