Rocket Factory Augsburg
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is a German commercial launch company developing the RFA ONE rocket for small and medium satellite launches.
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Augsburg, Germany
- Ownership
- Private
- Employees
- 300as of 2026
Quick Facts
About Rocket Factory Augsburg
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is a German commercial launch company developing the RFA ONE rocket for small and medium satellite launches. Founded in 2018 in Augsburg, Bavaria, RFA is a subsidiary of OHB SE, one of Europe's major space corporations. RFA ONE is a two-stage kerosene-LOX rocket targeting 1,300 kg to SSO, using a proprietary staged combustion HELIX engine cluster for high efficiency. The company plans to launch from SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands, Scotland, which would give Europe its first mainland orbital launch capability.
RFA targets the underserved 300–1,500 kg small satellite market with European-built hardware, providing launch sovereignty for customers who want to avoid US-built rockets for ITAR or policy reasons. The company has conducted engine test campaigns and progressed to integrated stage testing.
Products and product lines
| Product | Line | Note |
|---|---|---|
| RFA ONE | Orbital launch vehicle | Three-stage, 30-meter small-lift rocket burning RP-1/LOX, targeting up to 1,300 kg to polar/sun-synchronous orbit; first and second stages were shipped to SaxaVord Spaceport in early 2026 with a first orbital flight targeted for summer 2026. |
| Helix engine | Rocket engine | Oxygen-rich staged-combustion RP-1/LOX engine producing about 100 kN of thrust; nine power RFA ONE's first stage and one powers the second stage. |
| Redshift | Orbital transfer/kick stage | RFA ONE's third stage, powered by the Fenix engine, used for multi-orbit payload deployment. |
| Argo | Cargo spacecraft (in development) | 3.7 m diameter, 7.7 m long reusable cargo vehicle unveiled in 2023 with a 4,000 kg capacity, aimed at a demonstration mission in 2028. |
| SaxaVord launch licence | Regulatory/launch site | The UK Civil Aviation Authority granted RFA an unlimited-duration spaceflight operator licence on 16 January 2025, the first for vertical launch of a privately developed orbital rocket from UK soil. |
| European Launcher Challenge contract | Institutional funding/contract | RFA signed an ESA European Launcher Challenge contract on 27 August 2026, backed by the German government and DLR, to advance RFA ONE toward operational launch capability. |
Timeline
- 2018 Rocket Factory Augsburg is founded in August as a spinoff of OHB via MT Aerospace, with Jörn Spurmann and Stefan Brieschenk becoming co-founders and board members in 2019. [source]
- 2024 A static-fire test of RFA ONE's first stage at SaxaVord Spaceport on 19 August ends in an anomaly that destroys the stage and damages the launch mount, pushing the maiden flight to 2025. [source]
- 2025 The UK Civil Aviation Authority grants RFA a spaceflight operator launch licence for SaxaVord on 16 January, the first UK licence for vertical launch of a privately developed orbital rocket. [source]
- 2025 Prof. Dr. Indulis Kalnins becomes chairman of RFA's management board (CEO) on 11 April, succeeding Dr. Stefan Tweraser, as the company focuses on reaching the launchpad; co-founders Stefan Brieschenk and Jörn Spurmann continue as Chief Development Officer and Chief Commercial Officer. [source]
- 2026 RFA ships RFA ONE's first and second stages to SaxaVord Spaceport on 6 March — the first stage after testing in Augsburg, the second after hot-fire testing at Esrange, Sweden — targeting a first orbital launch in summer 2026. [source]
- 2026 ESA signs RFA to a European Launcher Challenge contract on 27 August, backed by the German government and DLR, to help develop Europe's small- and medium-class launcher capability. [source]
Indulis Kalnins (CEO), Stefan Brieschenk (Chief Development Officer)
Team
- Prof. Dr. Indulis KalninsCEO · source
Signals
- Verification
- Verified 2026-09-09
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Frequently asked about Rocket Factory Augsburg
Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.
- When was Rocket Factory Augsburg founded?
- Rocket Factory Augsburg was founded in 2018 in Germany.
- Where is Rocket Factory Augsburg headquartered?
- Rocket Factory Augsburg is headquartered in Augsburg, Germany.
- What does Rocket Factory Augsburg do?
- Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is a German commercial launch company developing the RFA ONE rocket for small and medium satellite launches. Founded in 2018 in Augsburg, Bavaria, RFA is a subsidiary of OHB SE, one of Europe's major space corporations. RFA ONE is a two-stage kerosene-LOX rocket targeting 1,300 kg to SSO, …
- Is Rocket Factory Augsburg a public or private company?
- Rocket Factory Augsburg is a privately held company and is not listed on any stock exchange.
- What sector does Rocket Factory Augsburg operate in?
- Rocket Factory Augsburg works in launch services.
Sources
The structured fields on this page (founding year, location, sector, status, listing) and the profile text are drawn from the sources below. How profiles are drafted and checked is described in our methodology.
- Official website (rfa.space)
- Merged duplicate entry rfa · retrieved 2026-09-05
- Wikidata / Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-09-05
- RFA: RFA receives launch licence from the UK (16 Jan 2025) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- RFA: Indulis Kalnins becomes new CEO at RFA (11 Apr 2025) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- RFA: RFA ships stages to SaxaVord Spaceport (6 Mar 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- RFA: signs contract with ESA for the European Launcher Challenge (27 Aug 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Rocket Factory Augsburg: About/leadership page · retrieved 2026-09-09
Data Accuracy Notice: Information about Rocket Factory Augsburg is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.