Rocket Factory Augsburg Secures Launch License in the United Kingdom
The German rocket manufacturer Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has received official approval for launching its RFA One orbital rocket from the Shetland Islands in Scotland. This milestone was confirmed by the company in a press release on January 16, 2025, following the issuance of the license by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
A Historic Moment for Aerospace
“This marks a new era for the aerospace industry,” commented Rob Bishton from the CAA. “The issuance of the first license for a vertical launch from UK soil is a historic milestone for our country.”
With this achievement, RFA becomes the first company in Europe to receive such a license for vertical launches of a privately developed orbital rocket. “This license represents a bold step for Europe towards an independent, competitive, and sustainable access to space,” stated Jörn Spurmann, Chief Commercial Officer of RFA, in the same press release.
Regulatory Approvals in Place
The launch license comes alongside the spaceport license and the flight area control approval issued to SaxaVord Spaceport, completing the trio of regulatory clearances required for a test flight. This test launch is scheduled to take place from Scotland in 2025.
Final Preparations Underway
With the regulatory framework now established, RFA is focusing on the final technical preparations for the inaugural test flight. The company has already achieved critical milestones, including the flight qualification of the second stage of the RFA One rocket, the successful testing of its payload fairing system, and the evaluation of the Redshift Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV).
Before the launch can take place, the first stage of the rocket, powered by nine Helix engines, needs to be fully assembled. Additionally, a full-scale hot-fire test is planned at the SaxaVord Spaceport launch pad to ensure operational readiness.
This significant development highlights Europe’s growing capabilities in the space sector and positions RFA as a pioneer in advancing private access to orbit.
