https://spacewatch.global/tag/rocket-factory-augsburg/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:16:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/rocket-factory-augsburg/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/munich-space-summit-european-launcher-companies-demand-contracts-as-agencies-continue-to-book-spacex/ Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72296 The launcher panel at Day 2 of the inaugural Munich Space Summit exposed a fundamental disconnect in European space policy: the continent's commercial launcher companies are building factories, filling order books, and preparing for flight - while European institutions continue to procure launch services from SpaceX and Rocket Lab.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/spacewatchgl-opinion-europes-space-strategy-at-a-crossroads-is-there-a-plan-b/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72133
Written by Gilles Rabin
Behind the familiar rhythm of conferences and announcements, Europe’s space industry is entering a new phase. The emergence of a German-led constellation effort raises a fundamental question: who will shape Europe’s space future, and who will follow?]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/space-comm-expo-scotland-2025-saxavords-big-year-ahead-with-robin-huber/ Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69464 In this Space Café Clip from Space Comms Expo 2025 in Glasgow, SpaceWatch.Global Senior Editor and Field Reporter Laura Todd catches up with Robin Huber, Head of Europe for SaxaVord Spaceport - Scotland’s rapidly rising launch hub in the Shetland Islands.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/07/european-launcher-challenge-unveils-five-preselected-challengers/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=66167 Five Challengers have been preselected to move forward following the first stage of the European Launcher Challenge. They are Isar Aerospace, Maiaspace, Orbital Express Launch, PLD Space, and Rocket Factory Augsburg. ESA will subsequently consolidate the proposals for the ESA Council at ministerial level (CM25) in November 2025.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/11/dlr-announces-winners-of-smallsat-competitions/ Mon, 27 Nov 2023 07:00:04 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=52499 The German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has announced the winners of the three competitions that matched the theme of the second National Small Satellite Conference in Berlin – the Microlauncher Payload Competition, the Small Satellite Competition and the Small Satellite Payload Competition. The German Government launched the 'Small Satellite Initiative' to strengthen the German space industry and promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and, in particular, start-ups in the field of small satellites.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/08/scaleup-invest-announces-first-companies-to-join-programme/ Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:00:48 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50551 The first companies have joined ScaleUp Invest, a new ESA commercialisation programme, which aims at accelerating the growth of the private space ecosystem. The companies in order of acceptance are: Isar Aerospace, Rocket Factory Augsburg, Orbex, Aerospacelab, and Space Cargo Unlimited. ScaleUp will support NewSpace developments by stimulating companies to take more risks, hit the market faster, attract private and institutional investors, and introduce game-changing business innovation by providing external support to business development. This could include technical consultancy, access to facilities, in-orbit demonstration and validation opportunities.  ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/01/rfas-first-launch-to-take-place-from-saxavord-spaceport/ Wed, 11 Jan 2023 07:00:47 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=45902 Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) and SaxaVord Spaceport have announced their launch operations partnership. As a result of the partnership, RFA will have exclusive access to Launch Pad Fredo for orbital launches. Consequently, the company’s first launch of its RFA ONE launch system – currently planned for the end of 2023 – will take place from the northernmost point in the UK.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/07/rfa-successfully-hot-fires-helix-engine/ Thu, 14 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=42119 Launch service provider Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), successfully tested its Helix engine in flight configuration for a total of 74 seconds, the company reported. The test included long-duration hot firings of 30 and 40 seconds each, preceded by a short test of four seconds of the same engine. The tests reached the desired duration, Helix operated nominally and was shut down safely. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/04/rfa-wins-e11-million-in-dlr-microlauncher-competition/ Tue, 26 Apr 2022 07:00:36 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=40619 Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) won the 2022 round of the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) microlauncher competition with a prize value of €11 million, RFA announced. As a result, the German government became an anchor customer of the RFA One launch service.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/02/spacewatchgl-opinion-the-european-access-to-space/ Fri, 18 Feb 2022 07:30:58 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=39278 The global space launch services market in 2019 was valued at $9.5 billion and is projected to reach a market value of $47.6 billion by 2030, according to business intelligence company Visiongain. Last year Europe occupied 5th place in the global space launching ranking, with only 4 successful launches.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/12/space-cafe-webtalk-with-johanna-bergstrom-roos-the-space-region-in-swedens-north/ Thu, 02 Dec 2021 08:00:45 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37647 During this week’s Space Café, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening caught up with the project manager of RIT2021 and a business developer with a mission to strengthen Luleå University presence in Kiruna Johanna Bergström Roos. Johanna Bergstrom-Roos is employed at LTU Business AB since October 2011 and is working with the Kiruna base. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/12/german-industry-kicks-off-new-space-initiative/ Thu, 02 Dec 2021 07:00:29 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37639 The Federation of German Industries (BDI) partners with five associations and 26 companies to establish a new space initiative and strengthen “networking between space, start-ups and industry”, the federation said. "With this new initiative, the BDI wants to send a strong signal of a joint departure in space for Germany and Europe," said BDI CEO Joachim Lang. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/11/space-cafe-radio-on-tour-in-bremen-dr-ibrahim-ata-rocket-factory-augsburg/ Mon, 22 Nov 2021 10:00:26 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37345 In this Space Café Radio – on tour in Bremen, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr. Ibrahim Ata, Head of Sales and Business Development at Rocket Factory Augsburg. Together, they talked about the Space Tech Expo in Bremen, the status of their launcher development and the feeling of meeting people face to face. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/11/rfa-and-morpheus-to-jointly-push-new-propulsion-technologies/ Fri, 19 Nov 2021 07:00:54 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37290&preview=true&preview_id=37290 The propulsion systems supplier Morpheus Space and the launch service provider Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) want to cooperate in the field of future propulsion technologies, the companies said. RFA intends to integrate Morpheus propulsion systems into the orbital stage of its RFA One launch vehicle system to improve its overall performance and sustainability, the Augsburg-based company said.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/10/plus-ultra-and-rfa-to-launch-cislunar-constellation/ Fri, 29 Oct 2021 06:00:21 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=36844 Plus Ultra Space Outpost (Plus Ultra) and Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) have signed an agreement to launch a demonstrator mission to the Moon, RFA announced. RFA will launch Plus Ultra’s first satellite in 2023 on an RFA ONE launch vehicle. The vehicle uses industrial automation and staged-combustion propulsion, according to the company.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/10/satellite-launch-base-at-andoya-secures-funding/ Mon, 11 Oct 2021 06:00:03 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=36349 Andøya Space is to receive US $42.9 million from the Norwegian government to build a small satellite launch base at Andøya in Northern Norway, the government announced. The project will add 150 new positions in the territory. It will also put Norway on the list of countries that are capable of launching satellites from their own land.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/09/german-government-supports-microlauncher-offshore-platform/ Tue, 07 Sep 2021 06:00:38 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=35551&preview=true&preview_id=35551 The German government supports plans to build an offshore launch platform in the North Sea, Germany´s minister for economy, Peter Altmaier, said in Berlin. The minister partnered with the Federation of German Industries (BDI), who had promoted the idea since several years. The German Offshore Spaceport Alliance (Gosa) signed contracts with four microlaunchers.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/07/rfa-test-fired-its-staged-combustion-engine/ Mon, 26 Jul 2021 06:00:09 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=34610&preview=true&preview_id=34610 The launch service provider Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has successfully tested its staged combustion engine and thus marked the entry of the first European player in this technology segment, the company said. RFA’s eight-second engine test was conducted in Kiruna, Sweden, the company said. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/07/rocket-factory-augsburg-expands-to-portugal/ Thu, 01 Jul 2021 06:00:07 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=34090&preview=true&preview_id=34090 Rocket Factory Augsburg opened an office in Portugal near Porto, to increase its European footprint, the company said. With the inauguration of its Portugal offices, RFA signed a cooperation agreement with AICEP, the Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency, RFA said.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/06/rfa-tests-full-scale-staged-combustion-engine/ Wed, 23 Jun 2021 06:00:28 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=33871&preview=true&preview_id=33871 Paris, 23 June 2021. – Just two seconds: Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) successfully tested its full-scale staged combustion engine, the company said. The test was carried out in Kiruna (Sweden). Staged combustion technology is characterized by higher efficiencies and performances compared to traditional rocket engine designs, the company explained.]]>