RFAA company behind a rocket engine that exploded during a test at the UK’s new Shetland spaceport could yet be the first in Europe to carry out vertical launches into orbit.
German firm Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has been awarded the first launch operator license allowing it to launch rockets from the SaxaVord spaceport.
The licence, granted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), allows the RFA to launch up to ten rockets a year into space, carrying a number of small satellites and other payloads.
RFA described the licence, the first of its kind to be granted in Europe, as a “groundbreaking moment”.
Rob Bishton, of the CAA, said: “This is a new era for aerospace and the award of the UK’s first vertical launch license builds towards a milestone for the nation.
“This license is the culmination of a lot of hard work behind the scenes to put the right safety and environmental measures in place before launch.”
SaxaVord Spaceport already has all the licenses it needs to operate and hopes to launch up to 30 rockets a year.
Seven other rocket companies are planning to launch from the Shetland site, but RFA is further ahead in their planning.
Their first test flight is already fully booked with seven German companies already committed to placing their valuable cargo on board.
UK company Orbex recently announced that it had moved the launch plan from Spaceport Sutherland in northwest Scotland to Spaceport SaxaVord.
Another German company, HyImpulse, hopes to launch its vehicle into orbit from the Unst site.
The Scottish company, Skyrora, is also awaiting approval of its Launch Operator License from the CAA.
If awarded, it plans to launch its Skylark L vehicle from Shetland in late 2025 or early 2026 with up to 16 launches per year thereafter.
Jörn Spurmann, co-founder of RFA, said: “This is a groundbreaking moment for RFA and for Europe’s space industry.
“Securing ESA’s first established overseas launch license in Kourou is a powerful endorsement of our technical excellence and a turning point for European space innovation.
“This license marks Europe’s bold step towards independent, competitive and sustainable access to space.
“By enabling cost-effective and flexible launches from the European mainland, we are laying the foundations for a new era of space exploration and commercialisation, ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of the global space race.”
The first launch
The RFA is confident that the first test flight of the 30m RFA ONE missile will occur in 2025.
Spurmann told BBC Scotland News that he was realistic about the first rocket going into orbit.
He added: “The first launch is a test flight. Let’s see how far we can go with it.
“The statistics around the world are very much against us, but let’s see how far we can go.”
The rocket will lift off from Launch Pad 1 ‘Fredo’ at the SaxaVord location.
It will then travel north-west, over the Norwegian Sea and the North Pole, before hopefully entering orbit around 500km above the earth’s surface.
A Departure Exclusion Zone (LEZ) will be enforced around Shetland during the departure window and restrictions imposed on any aircraft or vessel within the zone.
After launch, the first and second stages of each rocket will separate and fall after the fuel is used up, allowing the third stage to continue with the payload.
Unlike Elon Musk’s Starship rocket although the rocket fuel sections will not be reused.
Instead, the first and second stages will fall back into the sea, sinking to the bottom to form an artificial reef and serve as habitat for marine life.
Last year, during a test known as a hot fire, an RFA engine exploded at the SaxaVord site, resulting in some damage to the launch pad and completely destroying the engine.
A new ‘hot-fire’ test of the nine-engine Helix will need to be carried out on the launch pad before the go-ahead for launch is given.
The rest of the three-stage RFA ONE rocket is now in the final stages of completion in Augsburg, Germany and will be assembled in Shetland over the coming months.
