Space travel: RFA receives launch authorization for its small rocket
The Augsburg-based company RFA has the first European license for a privately developed orbital rocket. It is due to be launched on a Shetland island this year.
Artist's impression of the launch of an XRF One rocket
(Image: RFA)
Launch license for RFA One: The Augsburg-based space company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has received the final approval that was still missing for the launch of its rocket. According to RFA, this makes it the first company in Europe with a license to launch a privately developed orbital rocket. Preparations for the first launch are underway.
The British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted RFA the launch license for the rocket, the company reports. Two further licenses, for the launch site and flight area control, have already been issued. The license is not time-limited and covers a wide range of orbits and flight paths.
"Receiving the first launch license outside ESA's Kourou site is not only a regulatory milestone, but also a strong confirmation of our technical excellence and a turning point for European space innovation," said Jörn Spurmann, CFO and one of the founders of RFA. "This license is a bold step by Europe towards independent, competitive and sustainable access to space." RFA is a spin-off of the Bremen-based satellite manufacturer OHB.
RFA One has three stages
RFA One is a 30-meter, three-stage launch vehicle designed to transport up to 1.3 tons of payload into low Earth orbit. In 2022, it came second in the German government's microlauncher competition, which involved start-up funding of eleven million euros.
The company is now preparing for the first launch of the rocket, which is due to take place this year. The second rocket stage, the Redshift Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) and the payload fairing have already been qualified. RFA is still building the first stage of the rocket with nine helix engines.
The rocket is to be launched from the Saxavord Spaceport launch site on the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland. Last year, the first Rateken stage exploded during an engine test in Saxavord.
(wpl)
