New generation rocket engines to be tested at Esrange – SSC signs contract with Isar Aerospace

Swedish Space Corporation, SSC, and German space tech company Isar Aerospace have signed a long-term contract for testing of a new generation of European rocket engines for minilaunchers at Esrange Space Center in Sweden. The agreement includes a rocket stand for vertical tests and the agreement can be extended to include rocket stage tests with multiple rocket engines.

SSC’s new engine and stage test capability plays a crucial part in supporting research and the development of rocket engines for minilaunchers in Europe. The first engine tests are planned for mid-2020 and the aim is to launch satellites with Isar Aerospace rockets based on this engine technology from 2021 onward.

“We are very excited about the new collaboration with Isar Aerospace. This is our first rocket engine test customer and providing this service is fully in line with SSC's overall strategy to develop the ability to launch satellites from Esrange. The partnership shows that we have already come a long way and that we are well on our way to meet both current and future customer needs,” says Stefan Gardefjord, CEO at SSC.

"Isar Aerospace is progressing fast in its development of these engines and we are happy that we so quickly were able to find a suitable test site for our upcoming engine and stage tests. We see this as a beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with SSC and Sweden in general,” says Josef Fleischmann, COO and co-founder of Isar Aerospace.

For more information about Isar Aerospace, please visit www.isaraerospace.com.
For more information about SSC, please visit www.sscspace.com.

Contact: Philip Ohlsson, Press Contact SSC, +46 (0) 707-217 026, philip@comma.se.

About SSC: SSC provides advanced space services to commercial and institutional customers worldwide. Built on decades of experience, we offer proven expertise in space engineering, satellite management services and launch services for sounding rockets and balloons. We help Earth benefit from space.

About Isar Aerospace: Isar Aerospace democratizes access to space through flexible and low-cost satellite launch services. The company capitalizes on technology leaps in advanced manufacturing increasing both performance and environmental responsibility. Based on cutting-edge rocket engineering research, the innovative propulsion architecture lowers emissions drastically for sustainable use of space, paving the way for future space exploration. Isar Aerospace is backed by private investors such as Earlybird, Airbus Ventures, Vito Ventures, UVC Partners and former SpaceX Vice President Bulent Altan.