Beware, Musk and Bezos — Porsche is joining the space race
If Jeff Bezos can be an astronaut, Porsche can build a rocket
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainabili(show all)Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy. With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
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Isar’s vision
Despite its low profile, Isar aims to compete withElon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin by offering (relatively) inexpensive low-earth orbit satellite launch services.
This year, the company began manufacturing its Spectrum rocket, which relies heavily on automation and 3D printing to reduce production costs.
Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle, specifically designed for satellite constellation deployment.
Its payload capability can reach up to 1,000kg, and its multi-ignition second-stage engine can inject payloads directly into orbit.
Can Isar rival SpaceX and Blue Origin?
I’d say it’s a long shot.
Isar was founded just three years ago and since thenit’s raised the relatively low amount of $180 million in funding.
It’s also never sent a single satellite to space.
On the upside, in May, Isar became the first private European company to secure a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA), when it was awarded with $13 million by the German Government tolaunch two satellites into orbit.
The company’s also planning to develop reusable rockets in the future, which would give it a huge advantage as this specific tech is still lagging.
Nevertheless, we need to wait for Spectrum’s launch later in 2022 before we can make safer conclusions.
Why would Porsche invest?
Here’s what Lutz Meschke, a Porsche executive, had to say:
It goes without saying that the traditional industry that interests Porsche is the automotive sector.
As cars become more and more software-centric, successful space tech could also be brought from the stars to the earth.
Besides that, we all know that GPS systems are based on satellite data, which means that direct access to satellites could enhance the automaker’s navigation and even parking systems.
Personally, I doubt that Isar has a chance to seriously rival SpaceX and Blue Origin — at least for the next decade —but my guess is that this is only the beginning for brands’ investment into space.
Do EVs excite your electrons? Do ebikes get your wheels spinning? Do self-driving cars get you all charged up?
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