A Germany-based rocket company as announced a launch operations partnership with SaxaVord Spaceport in Sheltand.

The Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) will have exclusive access to Launch Pad Fredo for orbital launches, meaning the company’s first launch of its RFA ONE launch system will take place from the northernmost point in the UK, planned for the end of 2023.

The planned launch will take place less than a year from the failed Virgin Orbit launch that was attempted in Cornwall in early 2023.

The commercial Spaceport in Shetland location will allow RFA to launch payloads at high cadence into polar, sun-synchronous orbits.

Existing logistics and infrastructure, launch readiness, as well as rapid implementation and matching mentality were key factors why RFA chose to partner with SaxaVord.

With the multi-year partnership securing RFA’s first flight launch site, allowing it to provide its services individually and flexibly.

The RFA launch pad, completed in 2022 along with the launch stool, will be the first for vertical rocket launches in the UK and mainland Europe.

In the future, the launch pad will not only be used for orbital launches, but for testing and qualification at the RFA ONE core stages.

Testing will begin in mid-2023, after which the first launch will be made into a 500 kilometre high sun-synchronous orbit.

Jörn Spurmann, Chief Commercial Officer at RFA, said: “We are super excited to launch our first flight from SaxaVord.

“This partnership of privately financed companies enables the spirit and speed that we need, to be on top of the commercial small launch competition.

“The SaxaVord team was incredibly determined to build our launch pad and get the operations up and running. We are proud to be part of this historic event for the UK having built the first launch pad in mainland Europe.

“We firmly believe in the UK’s strategic space vision and are absolutely convinced that the double-digit million investment in the site is well placed on our part.”

The partnership will allow RFA to launch satellites, the majority of which are active in two major areas: Earth observation and communications. The data collected by these satellites can benefit any industry, including environmental and climate protection, ground condition analysis, and Internet of Things.

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SaxaVord Spaceport CEO Frank Strang said: “We’re delighted to kick off the New Year by announcing our partnership with RFA.

“We will support RFA across the entire lifecycle of a launch, from facilitating testing, inspections, fuelling and safety, to supplying MET weather data and access to our ground station network for data capture and distribution.

“The entire team cannot wait to welcome RFA and work closely as we edge closer to the UK’s first vertical space launch in Unst.”

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