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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

RFA One

Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.

Rocket Factory AugsburgDevelopment
Admin
Variants
1
Canonical variants linked to this family.
Historical missions
0
Missions in the public mission table with actual launch dates.
Peak listed capacity
1,300 kg
Maximum payload capacity across listed variants and orbits.

Launch Cadence

Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.

YearHistorical missionsForecast launches
202601
202702
202803
202904
203005
203105
203205
203306
203406
203506
203606
203706
203806
203906
204006
204106

Forecast Location Split

1 launch location represented.

Performance Specs

Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
RFA One
SSO1,300 kg500 kmUnknownRocket Factory Augsburg RFA ONE
RFA One
MEO500 kg6,000 kmUnknownRocket Factory Augsburg RFA ONE

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch

No recent missions

No launched missions are linked to variants in this family.

Forecasted Missions

Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.

MissionVariantAnnounced

No forecasted missions

No upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family.

Variants

Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.

VariantStagesMissionsStatus
RFA One
Not stated0Development
YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026SaxaVord Spaceport135%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2027SaxaVord Spaceport235%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2028SaxaVord Spaceport335%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2029SaxaVord Spaceport435%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2030SaxaVord Spaceport530%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2031SaxaVord Spaceport530%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2032SaxaVord Spaceport530%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2033SaxaVord Spaceport625%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2034SaxaVord Spaceport625%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2035SaxaVord Spaceport625%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2036SaxaVord Spaceport625%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2037SaxaVord Spaceport625%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2038SaxaVord Spaceport625%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2039SaxaVord Spaceport625%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2040SaxaVord Spaceport625%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
2041SaxaVord Spaceport625%Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year license...
SaxaVord Spaceport
2026 · 35% confidence
1

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2027 · 35% confidence
2

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2028 · 35% confidence
3

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2029 · 35% confidence
4

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2030 · 30% confidence
5

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2031 · 30% confidence
5

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2032 · 30% confidence
5

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2033 · 25% confidence
6

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2034 · 25% confidence
6

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2035 · 25% confidence
6

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2036 · 25% confidence
6

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

SaxaVord Spaceport
2037 · 25% confidence
6

Conservative startup-ramp annual family throughput default: RFA One is still pre-first-orbital-flight in 2026; use operational cadence, not the 10/year licensed ceiling.

RFA One
GTO
450 kg
Unknown
Unknown
Rocket Factory Augsburg RFA ONE
RFA One
TLI300 kgUnknownUnknownRocket Factory Augsburg RFA ONE
RFA One
GEO150 kgUnknownUnknownRocket Factory Augsburg RFA ONE
Track
Mentions
137
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

A replacement first stage for RFA ONE is being transported from Rocket Factory Augsburg's headquarters in Augsburg, Germany, to the island of Unst.

RelationshipsPlanValue 3.9Feb 18, 2026Rocket Factory Augsburg se prepara para relanzar su cohete orbital tras el accidente de 2024
Page3of7

The RFA ONE second stage is expected to arrive in the coming weeks and has received significant upgrades including its Helix engine and associated control software.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Feb 18, 2026Rocket Factory Augsburg se prepara para relanzar su cohete orbital tras el accidente de 2024

Rocket Factory Augsburg will conduct a new static-fire test of the RFA ONE first stage once pad modifications and deluge-system tank installation are complete.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.3Feb 18, 2026Rocket Factory Augsburg se prepara para relanzar su cohete orbital tras el accidente de 2024

The RFA ONE rocket is 30 meters tall, has two stages, and is designed to deliver up to 1,300 kilograms to low Earth orbit.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Feb 18, 2026Rocket Factory Augsburg se prepara para relanzar su cohete orbital tras el accidente de 2024

Rocket Factory Augsburg offers an optional upper stage named Redshift to increase mission versatility for RFA ONE.

CapabilityPlanGeneralValue 4.0Feb 18, 2026Rocket Factory Augsburg se prepara para relanzar su cohete orbital tras el accidente de 2024

Rocket Factory Augsburg is working toward a hot fire test of the RFA ONE rocket’s first stage.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.5Feb 16, 2026RFA Begins Final Preparations for Inaugural RFA ONE Launch

An anomaly during a first-stage hot fire test in August 2024 caused the RFA ONE vehicle to burst into flames and resulted in the total loss of the stage.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Feb 16, 2026RFA Begins Final Preparations for Inaugural RFA ONE Launch

The RFA ONE upper stage has received upgrades to its single Helix engine and the associated control software.

CapabilityValue 4.0Feb 16, 2026RFA Begins Final Preparations for Inaugural RFA ONE Launch

Rocket Factory Augsburg is working to improve the performance of the RFA ONE rocket in parallel with preparations for the inaugural flight.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.5Feb 16, 2026RFA Begins Final Preparations for Inaugural RFA ONE Launch

Over the last 18 months Rocket Factory Augsburg has manufactured a replacement for the destroyed RFA ONE first stage and upgraded the vehicle’s upper stage.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Feb 16, 2026RFA Begins Final Preparations for Inaugural RFA ONE Launch

The RFA ONE rocket is a 30-metre-tall two-stage rocket designed to deliver up to 1,300 kilograms to low Earth orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.0Feb 16, 2026RFA Begins Final Preparations for Inaugural RFA ONE Launch

Rocket Factory Augsburg is transporting the replacement RFA ONE first stage from Augsburg in Germany to the launch site on Unst.

RelationshipsPlanGeneralValue 3.6Feb 16, 2026RFA Begins Final Preparations for Inaugural RFA ONE Launch

Zhihang-1’s propulsion architecture includes a four YF-102–powered first stage, a single vacuum-optimized YF-102V second stage producing 85 tons of thrust, and a third stage likely similar to the European RFA One.

CapabilityValue 4.6Feb 13, 2026Newcomer Zenk Space Fires Up Zhihang-1 First-Stage in Haiyang

Launches for the Flight Ticket initiative will use the RFA One rocket from the German company Rocket Factory Augsburg.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.0Jan 26, 2026AVS e Indra participan en la nueva fase de la iniciativa Flight Ticket de la ESA

Rocket Factory Augsburg has been selected to launch four institutionally contracted missions aboard its RFA One rocket.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.5Jan 24, 2026RFA Awarded ESA Flight Ticket Initiative Launch Contracts

Both missions will be launched aboard a single RFA One flight, likely the rocket’s third flight.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Jan 24, 2026RFA Awarded ESA Flight Ticket Initiative Launch Contracts

Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is based in Augsburg, Germany and is developing the RFA ONE small launch vehicle.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Liftoff for European launch startups

The UK committed €10 million towards RFA One, which is expected to launch from the UK’s SaxaVord Spaceport on its next attempt.

FinancialPlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 5, 2025Breaking Down Europe’s Launch Funding

Germany pledged €180.5 million to RFA's RFA One rocket and €176.9 million to Isar's Spectrum as part of its contributions to the ELC.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 4.0Dec 5, 2025Breaking Down Europe’s Launch Funding

Germany allocated €15.3 million to Rocket Factory Augsburg for RFA One in Component A and €165.21 million in Component B.

FinancialRelationshipsPlanValue 4.5Nov 30, 2025Updated: Over €900 Million Committed to European Launcher Challenge