German launcher in development Isar Aerospace secured a launch contract with Planet to launch one of Planet’s next-generation Pelican satellites, as early as late 2026.
Isar Aerospace and Planet announced the launch contract on July 2, including that additional satellites are planned for future launches.
Pelican satellites are Planet’s high-resolution tasking satellites. These are the largest satellites of Planet’s current fleet, with a mass of around 200 kilograms.
The companies described it as a major milestone for sovereign space capabilities in Germany. Last year, Planet announced plans to expand its presence in Germany to open a new satellite manufacturing facility for Pelican satellites in Berlin. This means that a German-built satellite will launch on a German-built rocket. The launch itself will take place from the Andøya Space complex in Norway.
“This collaboration underscores the strength and growing strategic importance of the German and European space ecosystem. Europe now has an unparalleled opportunity to leverage this ecosystem to build resilient space capabilities and unlock its potential for security and economic growth,” Stella Guillen, Isar Aerospace CCO, said in a release.
Isar Aerospace is preparing for its second launch attempt to validate its Spectrum vehicle. Its first flight in March of 2025 was unsuccessful due to a pressurization valve issue. The company recently stood down from an attempt on June 15.
