First orbital launch from European soil

Isar Aerospace — Spectrum, Andøya Spaceport, Norway — Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket reached orbit on 5 Sep 2026 after lifting off from Andøya Spaceport in northern Norway at 20:12 GMT, settling into an elliptical orbit about seven minutes later. The "Onward and Upward" mission carried five small satellites and Isar confirmed all five separated successfully. It is the first orbital launch ever conducted from European soil — Europe's existing launches fly from Kourou in French Guiana. Spectrum's first flight, in March 2025, failed less than a minute after liftoff; the investigation traced it to an unintended vent-valve opening and loss of attitude control.