Rocket Factory Augsburg

Rocket Factory Augsburg was founded as a spin-off of OHB SE in 2018 by Jörn Spurmann (CCO of RFA), Stefan Brieschenk (COO of RFA), Hans Steiniger (CEO of MT Aerospace) and Marco Fuchs (CEO of OHB SE).{{Cite press release |last=AG |first=Rocket Factory Augsburg |date=2021-02-12 |title=German Microlauncher start-up Rocket Factory announces unrivalled low price of EUR 3 million per rocket launch |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/02/12/2175120/0/en/German-Microlauncher-start-up-Rocket-Factory-announces-unrivalled-low-price-of-EUR-3-million-per-rocket-launch.html |access-date=2021-11-16 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}} As of 2021, Spurmann, Brieschenk, Steiniger, Fuchs, Stefan Tweraser (CEO of RFA), and Jean-Jacques Dordain (Chairman) made up the board of RFA.{{Cite web |title=A New CEO Is Named For Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) – SatNews |url=https://news.satnews.com/2021/10/25/a-new-ceo-is-named-for-rocket-factory-augsburg-rfa/ |access-date=2021-11-16 |website=news.satnews.com}}{{Cite web |title=ABOUT – Rocket Factory Augsburg |url=https://www.rfa.space/about/ |access-date=2021-11-16 |language=en-US}} OHB SE and Apollo Capital Partners GmbH are investors.{{cite news |last=Beil|first=Adrian |date=2021-08-30 |title=German startup Rocket Factory Augsburg successfully performs critical tests ahead of 2022 debut |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/08/rocket-factory-augsburg-tests-2022-debut/ |access-date=2021-11-16 |work=NASASpaceFlight }}{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2023-08-08 |title=Rocket Factory Augsburg gets €30 million investment boost |url=https://spacenews.com/rocket-factory-augsburg-gets-e30-million-investment-boost/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

In March 2021 RFA relocated to a new headquarters facility in Augsburg. The company employs more{{when|date=May 2024}} than 300 people from more than 30 countries.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

In April 2022 RFA won the second round of the "DLR microlauncher competition".{{Cite web |date=2022-04-26 |title=RFA Wins 11 Million Euros in the DLR Microlauncher Competition |url=https://newspaceglobal.com/rfa-wins-11-million-euros-in-the-dlr-microlauncher-competition/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=NewSpace Global |language=en}} As part of this contract RFA will launch 150 kg for the German Aerospace Center (DLR) aboard each of the first two RFA One flights. RFA will also receive €11 million{{from whom|date=May 2024}} to further the development of its launch vehicle.

Testing of the assembled RFA One vehicle began in August 2021 with cryogenic pressure testing on a prototype first stage,{{Citation |title=Cryogenic Burst Test - RFA | date=30 August 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8tBLHjfwc4 |language=en |access-date=2022-05-17}} and hot fire tests of the Helix rocket engine began in July 2022, with an integrated stage+engine system test of 280 seconds duration in March 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-11 |title=RFA completed a crucial Full Duration Hot Fire Test of the RFA One Upper Stage {{!}} Space Voyaging |url=https://www.spacevoyaging.com/rfa-completed-a-crucial-full-duration-hot-fire-test-of-the-rfa-one-upper-stage/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |language=en-US}} By May 2024, a hot fire test with five Helix engines was performed at SaxaVord Spaceport.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn1EGiLm24w |title=RFA One´s first stage arrived on the launch pad |language=en |access-date=2024-05-08 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-19 |title=Rocket Factory Augsburg on X|url=https://x.com/rfa_space/status/1792264625687257305 |access-date=2024-07-14|website=X}}

On Monday, 19 August 2024, a static fire test of the RFA One first stage with all nine engines, the same hardware that was slated to fly on the maiden flight of RFA One, was performed. An anomaly occurred that resulted in a fire, subsequent explosion, loss of the stage, and significant damage to the launch mount.[https://spacenews.com/rfa-first-stage-destroyed-in-static-fire-test/ RFA first stage destroyed in static-fire test], SpaceNews, 19 August 2024.[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy54wqzz0kvo Rocket engine explodes during test at Shetland spaceport], BBC News, 19 August 2024{{Cite web |date=Aug 19, 2024 |title=Rocket factory Augsburg |url=https://x.com/rfa_space/status/1825634436794245548 |website=x.com}}

Ground testing of a new RFA One launch vehicle is slated for 2025, and 2025 is also the revised estimate for an initial orbital launch attempt.{{cite news |last1=Rainbow|first1=Jason |title=RFA pushes maiden flight to 2025 after launchpad explosion |url=https://spacenews.com/rfa-pushes-maiden-flight-to-2025-after-launchpad-explosion/ |date=23 August 2024 |work=SpaceNews |access-date=23 August 2024}}

RFA is headquartered in Augsburg, close to Munich, with composite material manufacturing in Portugal, test facilities in Sweden and Scotland, and a launch facility in Scotland.

Since March 2021, the main factory and offices have been located at Berliner Allee 65, Augsburg.{{Cite web |title=CONTACT |url=https://www.rfa.space/contact/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Rocket Factory Augsburg |language=en-US}} The company has a team based at the rocket engine development and test site Esrange in Kiruna, Sweden.{{Cite web |last=Menn |first=Andreas |title=Rocket Factory Augsburg: Wird das Deutschlands erste kommerzielle Rakete? |url=https://www.wiwo.de/technologie/forschung/rocket-factory-augsburg-wird-das-deutschlands-erste-kommerzielle-rakete-/27300134.html |access-date=2021-11-16 |website=www.wiwo.de |date=21 June 2021 |language=de}} Since June 2021 RFA has had a Portuguese subsidiary, "RFA Portugal Unipessoal LDA," located in Matosinhos,{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=Rocket Factory Augsburg launches new offices at Matosinhos, Portugal |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2021/07/07/rocket-factory-augsburg-launches-new-offices-at-matosinhos-portugal/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}} to develop and qualify composite structures for RFA One.{{Cite web |last=Payer |first=Markus |date=2021-07-01 |title=Rocket Factory Augsburg expands to Portugal |url=https://spacewatch.global/2021/07/rocket-factory-augsburg-expands-to-portugal/ |access-date=2021-11-16 |website=SpaceWatch.Global |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=Rocket Factory Augsburg launches new offices at Matosinhos, Portugal |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2021/07/07/rocket-factory-augsburg-launches-new-offices-at-matosinhos-portugal/ |access-date=2021-11-16 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}}

{{Infobox Scottish island |

| official_name = SaxaVord Spaceport RFA launch site

| location_map = Scotland Shetland

| caption = Launch site location on Unst island, shown within the Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK

| coordinates = {{coord|60.818091|-0.771597|region:GB_type:isle|display=inline,title}}

| GridReference = HP600091

}}

In January 2023, RFA announced that it had secured exclusive access to Launch Pad Fredo at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland. The company said that the multi-year partnership included a "double-digit million pound investment" in SaxaVord by RFA. The company will use the facility to launch RFA One launch vehicle to polar and Sun-synchronous orbits. The maiden flight of the RFA One is planned to be launched from SaxaVord.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-11 |title=RFA secure exclusive access to SaxaVord launch pad |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/rfa-secure-exclusive-access-to-saxavord-launch-pad/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en}}

On 29 January 2024, RFA announced plans to launch rockets monthly from SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst in the Shetland Islands, aiming to be Europe's first-ever launch delivering a satellite into orbit.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-29 |title=German company aims for rocket launch every month from Shetland Islands |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/unst-augsburg-falcon-uk-space-agency-b2486380.html |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=The Independent |language=en}} After a static fire test anomaly in August 2024, the company anticipates its initial launch in 2025, following extensive testing and assembly in Augsburg and on-site preparation.

{{main|RFA One}}

Rocket Factory Augsburg's first launch vehicle is RFA One, a three-stage{{clarify|is it a Two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle with an on-orbit kick stage? or a Three-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle? The RFA website does not make it clear.|date=May 2024}} rocket designed to launch small satellites and payloads of up to 1,300 kg into polar orbits.{{Cite web |title=LAUNCHER |url=https://www.rfa.space/launcher/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Rocket Factory Augsburg |language=en-US}}{{better source|date=August 2024}} The vehicle is {{cvt|30|m}} long with a diameter of {{cvt|2|m}}. It has been in development since 2019. The vehicle is designed to transport small and micro-satellites into Low Earth orbit (LEO) and Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).

The first stage is powered by nine Helix engines, each producing 100kN of thrust.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-05 |title=Rocket Factory Augsburg Chose Helix Rocket Engine in a Public Contest |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2022/05/05/rocket-factory-augsburg-chose-helix-rocket-engine-in-a-public-contest/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}} The second stage will use one engine, a vacuum-optimised version of the Helix engine. The Helix engine uses rocket-grade kerosene, known as RP-1, fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. During 2020 the company redesigned Helix from a gas-generator cycle to an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle. Some components used in early engine versions, such as the turbopump, were bought from the Ukrainian company Pivdenmash to shorten development time.{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=26 April 2022 |title=Kleinraketen: Bund beflügelt Rocket Factory Augsburg mit 11 Millionen Euro |url=https://www.heise.de/news/Kleinraketen-Bund-befluegelt-Rocket-Factory-Augsburg-mit-11-Millionen-Euro-7066099.html |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=heise online |language=de}} Later versions of these components have been developed internally.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

The third stage, named Redshift, will function as an orbital transfer vehicle (OTV). Since its Fenix engine can be fired multiple times, it is able to reach different orbits within a single flight and complete different missions for different customers. It will use a non-hydrazine based, relightable green propellant.

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• {{Official website|https://www.rfa.space}}

{{European launch systems}}

Category:Private spaceflight companies

Category:Aerospace companies of Germany

Category:German companies established in 2018

Category:Companies based in Augsburg