Strong start-ups

“New Space” is the name given to the growing space sector shaped by private investment and innovation, in which numerous start-ups are increasingly driving development rather than the large state agencies. The sector nonetheless involves close cooperation with the state and other companies as well. Two years ago, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) held a competition for a microlauncher, with awards going to three start-ups that are working on small, innovative launchers that are to be used for transporting satellites, for example. These awards mean they will receive a total of 25 million euros from the German contribution under the launcher programme run by the European Space Agency ESA. We feature the three companies here:

First place: Isar Aerospace Technologies

The premiere of the launch vehicle Spectrum built by Isar Aerospace Technologies is currently planned for 2024. But even it were to be postponed to 2025, the project has recently received a huge boost. The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) was among those to participate in the start-up’s latest funding round – the NIF’s first ever direct investment in a satellite launch service provider. Spectrum will be used to transport satellites and payloads of up to 1,000 kilograms into orbit. Founded by former students of the Technical University of Munich, Isar Aerospace’s development activities are based not far from the Bavarian capital, while the test site for the future rocket launches is located on the Norwegian island of Andøya.

2nd place: Rocket Factory Augsburg

Rather than taking off, the rocket built by Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) actually burst into flames on the Scottish island of Unst in August 2024. But as a journalist writing for a leading German business newspaper commented: “Germany can learn a lot from entrepreneurs like this.” Too often, the writer continued, there was still a lack of willingness to take risks in the search for innovations in Germany. RFA is certainly self-assured in the way it expresses its corporate objective: “Our aim is to offer fast and flexible start-up solutions at an unrivalled low price. To this end, we develop state-of-the-art launchers and in-orbit mobility solutions that enable satellite operators to install their satellite constellations more efficiently and cost-effectively.” The company still has its sights set firmly on a premiere launch.

3rd place: HyImpulse Technologies

The time finally came in May 2024: HyImpulse Technologies launched its rocket for a first test flight in Australia. The start-up based in Neuenstadt am Kocher in Baden-Württemberg has opted for an unusual form of propulsion: hybrid engines use liquid oxygen for the efficient combustion of solid paraffin, i.e. nothing other than candle wax. The prospects for ongoing development are good, too: in November, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that it would be providing additional millions to fund HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace and RFA. This was a sign of “trust and an investment in Europe’s future as a competitive force in space”, said HyImpulse co-founder Christian Schmierer.