Rocket Factory Augsburg RFA ONE launch delay

German launch-vehicle startup Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) halted its RFA One test on 28 July at Scotland’s SaxaVord Spaceport after detecting an issue during pad-testing. The problem required the rocket to be de-stacked, postponing the region’s first vertical orbital launch from UK soil. The launch, originally slated for August or September, has no new date announced.

Following a week of pressurising the vehicle in preparation for a hot-fire test, engineers identified a technical issue specifically with the rocket's first stage. RFA has decided to dismantle the vehicle to conduct a detailed investigation of the fuel tank.

The delay follows a previous engine-fire incident in August 2024 and comes as Europe seeks greater space-flight autonomy to meet rising small-satellite demand and U.S. defence launch requirements. RFA recently received a UK space-operations licence, a milestone for its plans to develop a reusable first stage and increase launch cadence. The RFA One is a three-stage vehicle designed to transport small satellites into low Earth orbit with a payload capacity of up to 1,600 kilograms. The spaceport remains supportive, and the certified launch window remains open for future dates, pending resolution of the vehicle issue.

RFA is now working toward the first flight of its RFA ONE rocket, with plans to launch from the SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands before the end of 2026. Supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), the vehicle utilizes Helix ORSC engines and is designed to carry payloads of up to 1,300 kg to low Earth orbit. While earlier launch targets for 2024 or 2025 were missed due to technical setbacks, including the August 2024 fire that resulted in the total loss of a first-stage prototype, the company remains focused on its upcoming missions.