Rocket Factory Augsburg
German New Space start-up
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| 2025 | Planned ground testing of a new RFA One launch vehicle and anticipated initial orbital launch attempt following the August 2024 test anomaly. |
| August 19 2024 | Conducted a static fire test of the RFA One first stage with all nine engines, which resulted in an anomaly, fire, explosion, and loss of the stage with significant damage to the launch mount. |
| May 2024 | Performed a hot fire test with five Helix engines at SaxaVord Spaceport. |
| January 29 2024 | Announced plans to launch rockets monthly from SaxaVord Spaceport, aiming to be Europe's first satellite launch to orbit. |
| March 2023 | Completed an integrated stage+engine system test lasting 280 seconds. |
| January 2023 | Secured exclusive access to Launch Pad Fredo at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland, announcing a multi-year partnership with a 'double-digit million pound investment'. |
| July 2022 | Initiated hot fire tests of the Helix rocket engine. |
| April 2022 | RFA won the second round of the DLR microlauncher competition, securing a contract to launch 150 kg for the German Aerospace Center and receiving €11 million for launch vehicle development. |
| August 2021 | Began testing of the assembled RFA One vehicle, starting with cryogenic pressure testing on a prototype first stage. |
| June 2021 | RFA established a Portuguese subsidiary, 'RFA Portugal Unipessoal LDA', in Matosinhos to develop and qualify composite structures for RFA One. |
| March 2021 | RFA relocated to a new headquarters facility in Augsburg, expanding to employ more than 300 people from over 30 countries. |
| 2020 | The company redesigned the Helix engine from a gas-generator cycle to an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle, representing a significant technical advancement in their rocket engine development. |
| 2019 | Rocket Factory Augsburg began development of their satellite launch vehicle. |
| 2018 | Rocket Factory Augsburg was founded as a spin-off of OHB SE by Jörn Spurmann, Stefan Brieschenk, Hans Steiniger, and Marco Fuchs, with investors including OHB SE and Apollo Capital Partners GmbH. |
| 2018 | Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) was founded with the mission to build rockets in a standardized, car-like manufacturing approach. |
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