Business · Companies · 10 hrs ago
RFA ONE's First Launch From Scotland Now Targeted for 2027
Rocket Factory Augsburg now targets 2027 for RFA ONE's first flight from the SaxaVord launch facility in Scotland.
The German company had planned the rocket’s inaugural launch for the summer, but it has not given a more specific date for the new target.
In July, the rocket was assembled on its launch pad ahead of a test, but an issue during testing led engineers to take it apart for investigation and possible repairs.
The company did not say what the issue was, and the setback cancelled a launch window that was due to open on 10 August.
RFA ONE is being developed by a company that aims to become a global launch service provider.
The delay matters because this will be the rocket’s first flight, and the company has not yet announced when in 2027 it expects to launch.
RFA says a successful first flight in 2027 is its goal.
Rocket Factory Augsburg now targets 2027 for the first flight of its RFA ONE rocket from Scotland.
The company announced the revised target in a LinkedIn post published on 3 November.
The rocket was removed from the launch pad in July after an issue arose during testing.
The investigation led to the cancellation of a five-week launch window scheduled to open on 10 August.
RFA has not provided a more specific launch window.
- Who
- Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), a German launch company.
- What
- It is targeting 2027 for the first flight of its RFA ONE rocket.
- When
- 2027; RFA announced the revised target in a post on 3 November.
- Where
- SaxaVord, a launch facility in Scotland.
- Why
- A testing issue led to the rocket being removed from the launch pad for further investigation and possible corrective action.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
RFA announced it had delivered the first and second stages of RFA ONE to SaxaVord, with an inaugural flight planned for the summer.
The rocket was integrated and stacked on the launch pad ahead of a planned first-stage static fire test.
RFA said a testing issue required the rocket to be de-stacked for investigation and possible corrective action.
OHB CEO Marco Fuchs said the first test flight was still planned for later that year.
RFA announced that it shared an expectation for the successful first flight of RFA ONE in 2027.
- Launch target
- 2027
- Rocket
- RFA ONE
- Launch site
- SaxaVord, Scotland
- Launch window cancelled
- Five weeks, scheduled to open on 10 August
- OHB stake in RFA
- 65.1%
What people are saying
the successful first flight of RFA ONE, the objective we’re now rallying behind on our #RoadtoLaunch
the first test flight is still planned for later this year
It will be re-erected soon, but as you know, launching rockets sometimes takes a few detours.