Daniel Metzler: Dedicated to European Space Innovation despite Test Flight Crash

On March 30, 2025, Isar Aerospace, a private European aerospace company headquartered in Munich, Germany, launched its rocket for the first test flight. The spaceport on Andøya Island in northern Norway also marked the occasion, becoming the first orbital launch site in continental Europe.

The rocket, a two-stage launcher designed to place small to medium-sized satellites into orbit, lifted off and flew for 30 seconds before crashing.

Despite the unfortunate outcome, this result was anticipated. Aerospace is an exceptionally complex field, often requiring multiple tests over several years to develop a final, viable product. In its press release, Isar Aerospace emphasized this point, expressing optimism and determination:

In the first test flight of the company’s Spectrum launch vehicle from Andøya Spaceport in Norway, Isar Aerospace met its set goals: After ignition of its first stage, Spectrum successfully lifted off at 12:30 PM CEST for its first test flight lasting approximately 30 seconds. This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions.

The company added that all expectations were met, as they successfully designed, built, and launched the rocket.

While this statement is indisputable, the most noteworthy comment came from Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace. He emphasized the company’s European roots, expressing pride in demonstrating Europe’s enduring capacity for bold thinking and grand achievements. Metzler noted that Europe has all the resources needed to create globally competitive technology leaders.

For Ecu Radio, this stance is precisely what Europe needs to build confidence in its ability to be a truly independent, innovative, and daring actor on the global stage. It should however come as no surprise, given Metzler’s past statements about Europe and the European Union. Back in 2021, in a rare written interview with Institut Montaigne, he said:

• On the capacity to place payload into orbit: The decision to make Ariane operational is definitely the right one, but for the next generation of rockets, we really need to redefine our approach to what is best for Europe.
• On recent developments on globally competitive launchers: [they] contribute to creating the right conditions for a truly global competitive European ecosystem, which in the end will serve the European Union including the French and German governments, as well as institutional and commercial customers.
• On the funds allocated by Europe for its space industry: Space is the backbone of a crucial infrastructure and committing to it today will secure a strong European standing in the next decade for many industries.

With his heart confirmed to be in the right place, we wish to Isar Aerospace and its CEO all the success they can get, and will follow their development for the foreseeable future.