The funding was awarded by the UK Space Agency as part of the
European Space Agency (ESA), Boost! Programme, which aims to help
innovative companies develop new launch technologies and bring
them to market.
RFA UK will use the funding to develop and operate the
infrastructure and test equipment needed to enable them to launch
from SaxaVord Spaceport and are planning to launch in Q2 2024.
RFA UK and SaxaVord Spaceport anticipate around 90 skilled jobs
will be created locally when the spaceport reaches full
operational capability including spaceport operations and
administration, integration, testing and launch.
A subsidiary of Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA AG), the UK
company is headquartered in Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland. RFA AG
will have exclusive access to SaxaVord’s ‘Fredo’ launch pad from
where it plans to provide a regular cadence of launch services as
one of the spaceport’s anchor customers.
Measuring 30 metres tall and 2 metres wide, the RFA ONE launch
vehicle is a three-stage launch vehicle capable of deploying up
to 1,300 kg to a 500 km polar orbit. The rocket uses efficient
and environmentally friendly Helix staged-combustion engines,
stainless steel tanks and standardised components from other
industries to offer flexible, low-cost and precise transportation
into orbit with its Redshift OTV.
, Minister of State at the
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
The UK’s high growth £17 billion space industry is on the
frontline of advanced satellite manufacturing and satcomms
technology and services, and set to grow fast as the commercial
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite sector expands in the next
decade.
Through our circa £1.5 billion UK space funding programmes the
government is backing satcomms technology, space science,
missions and infrastructure to support the commercial satellite
sector.
This £3.5 million investment will enable RFA UK to develop the
technologies necessary to launch from SaxaVord Spaceport in
Scotland, creating dozens of jobs locally and growing the
Scottish cluster as a key part of the UK space sector.
Matt Archer, Director of Launch, UK Space Agency
said:
Our investment in Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) UK demonstrates
our continued commitment to make the UK Europe’s leading
destination for launch by encouraging the development of launch
companies.
This contract will help RFA UK and SaxaVord Spaceport prepare for
their first launch, creating high skilled jobs and supporting
government’s vision for the UK to be Europe’s most attractive
launch destination by 2030.
RFA UK was set-up to implement and operate launch-specific system
and test equipment to support RFA AG’s planned launches from
SaxaVord Spaceport.
Jörn Spurmann, Managing Director, RFA UK and Chief Commercial
Officer, RFA AG, said:
The support received from the UK Space Agency underscores their
strong confidence in our approach. We are eagerly anticipating
our inaugural orbital launch in mainland Europe from the SaxaVord
Spaceport on British territory. This event will further cement
our position as the pioneers in European commercial spaceflight.
At the same time, it demonstrates the unwavering confidence the
European Space Agency has in our strategy.
With the UK contributing as the third nation to the RFA ONE
development via C-STS Boost!, we solidify our role as a genuine
European launch service provider and the most endorsed commercial
launch service development within the C-STS Boost! Programme. We
are absolutely delighted to reciprocate this faith and support.
Other funding provided by the UK Space Agency to support launch
activities includes £23.4 million in 2 separate grants to
Lockheed Martin to establish launch operations from SaxaVord
Spaceport and to build a small launch orbital manoeuvring vehicle
in Reading which will launch on Lockheed Martin’s pathfinder
launch from the site.
Scott Hammond, SaxaVord Spaceport deputy CEO, said:
We are delighted that the UK Space Agency has awarded this
funding to our client to help them progress towards launch from
our site in Unst, the UK’s first vertical launch spaceport.
UK government Minister for Scotland, , said:
The Scottish space sector continues to go from strength to
strength with the latest figures showing an almost £40 million
increase in income and more than 100 new highly-skilled jobs with
support from the UK government. This new funding will help
support launches from SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, and
maintain UK leadership in this sector.
