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RFA One [RFA]
RFA One is a small liquid fueled orbital launch vehicle, which is being developed by Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), Germany, a subsidiary of OHB System.
The RFA One launch vehicle features three stages. Stage one uses nine liquid fuel engines. Each engine is based on a simple gas generator cycle. The turbo pump has been reported to have already been tested and is designed for additive manufacturing. Stage two uses a single engine with the same fuel combination. The tanks of both stages are built from metal. Stage three is a kick stage using green propellants and a flight proven engine.
RFA One will be capable of placing 1500 kilograms into a 700 kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. A maiden flight is planned for 2022. Andya Space Center, Norway, had intially been selected as launch site, but was later changed to SaxaVord Spaceport, UK. Additionally RFA entered an agreement with Southern launch to use the Australian launch site at Whaler's Way.
In August 2024, a static fire test of stage one was performed at the launch pad at SaxaVord, which ended in an explosion.
| Version | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFA One | Stage 1 / 9 × Helix | Stage 2 / 1 × Helix-Vac | Redshift / ? |
| Performance (kg) | LEO | LPEO | SSO | GTO | GEO | MolO | IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RFA One | 1500 | - | - | - | - |
No. TypNo Type Date LS Payload
None Planned 1 1 RFA One xx.3Q.2026 SxV MARIA G / UNNE 1 / ERMINAZ 1U, 1V, 1X / SIDLOC-PG 1, 2 x x RFA One xx.xx.202x ? (OHB Sweden) x x RFA One xx.xx.202x ? (OHB Cosmos) x x RFA One xx.xx.202x ? (LuxSpace) Launch sites: AnS = Andøya Spaceport, Andøya, Nordland, NorwayKo = Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG), Kourou, French Guiana, France
References:
- Rocket Factory Augsburg: Quick Facts about our launcher
