How does Isar Aerospace fit in with other smaller rocket launchers?
I'd imagine they are well behind, say, RKLB, but how far are they from commercial launches?
Edit after some digging, some background info:
Vehicle | Height | Diameter | Payload to LEO
-----------+--------+----------+----------------
Electron | 18 m | 1.8 m | 300 kg
Isar | 28 m | 2.0 m | 1000 kg
Neutron * | 43 m | 7.0 m | 13000 kg
Falcon 9 | 70 m | 3.7 m | 23000 kg
* in the works
To Rocket Lab's defense, they do quite a bit more than just launching Electrons and chipping at the Neutron.
Now: please make it rapidly reusable and at least 10x larger. Europe desperately needs sovereign launch capabilities in that class. Today, you were the first to cross the starting line. AWESOME. Have a drink, get some rest, and get back to work. Everyone will be rooting for you!
EU isn't a single identity. Usually overt displays of nationalism is frowned upon in Europe, especially in Germany. Moreover I have a strong guess that if there would be a flag, it would be the Bavarian one for a company called "Isar".
EU is a single well defined entity, the frowned upon flags are the German flags, EU flags are well tolerated especially in international settings.
For example the first electric plane that recently flew was originally European until last year and they had an EU flag on it. When eventually flew in USA they had the US flag.
Fun fact: French Guiana is a part of France -- and very much part of the EU -- despite not actually being in Europe. In roughly the same way that Hawaii is a part of the United States of America, despite not actually being in America.
I'd imagine they are well behind, say, RKLB, but how far are they from commercial launches?
Edit after some digging, some background info:
To Rocket Lab's defense, they do quite a bit more than just launching Electrons and chipping at the Neutron.Now: please make it rapidly reusable and at least 10x larger. Europe desperately needs sovereign launch capabilities in that class. Today, you were the first to cross the starting line. AWESOME. Have a drink, get some rest, and get back to work. Everyone will be rooting for you!
For example the first electric plane that recently flew was originally European until last year and they had an EU flag on it. When eventually flew in USA they had the US flag.