RFA One by Rocket Factory Augsburg: status and timeline

RFA One

A two-stage launch vehicle with nine first-stage Helix engines. RFA One targets low Earth orbit and sun-synchronous launches, with eventual booster reusability.

ProtoStage 2 of 5

First-stage static fire setback in Aug 2024; vehicle rebuilt. Awaiting first flight.

Updated 16 Jan 2025Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

No announced next step

Full upper-stage test with Helix engineJun 2023Complete.
Hot-fire test of first stage at SaxaVordMay 2024Complete.
Static fire test of nine-engine first stage19 Aug 2024Complete.
Launch license from Civil Aviation Authority16 Jan 2025Complete.
Static fire test of rebuilt first stageQ3 2025Complete.

Most important updates

Current obstacles

Static fire test setbackAug 2024: static fire destroyed the stage; oxygen fire in turbopump. Rebuilt and retested Sep 2025.
Staged-combustion engine maturityThe Helix design is more efficient but more complex. Proving reliability in full-duration hot-fire tests and flight remains the critical path.

Physics limits

Turbopump engineering limitsStaged-combustion engines require turbopumps to handle extreme pressures and temperatures. Below certain thresholds, material failures and combustion instability become inevitable.
First-stage parachute reliabilityRecovering a 590-tonne first stage requires reliable parachute systems and landing zones. Wind, parachute rip, and impact forces all constrain where and when recovery is safe.

How it works

3 parts

Helix Engine

Staged-combustion efficiency

Helix uses full-flow staged combustion, burning all propellant. This maximizes efficiency versus simpler designs.

Production

Automotive manufacturing approach

RFA applies supply-chain and modular-tooling methods from automotive manufacturing, aiming to build rockets repeatably and reduce the cost per launch over time.

Reusability

First-stage recovery

The first stage is designed to separate, slow via parachute, and land for refurbishment and reflying. This approach mirrors SpaceX's Falcon 9 model.

Spec sheet

Spec	RFA One
Vehicle height	71 m^R (reported)
Liftoff mass	590 t^R (reported)
First-stage engines	9× Helix^R (reported)
LEO payload capacity	~17 t^R (reported)
Sun-synchronous orbit payload	~14 t^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Peer comparison

Launch peers

Spec	RFA One	Space Pioneer Tianlong-3
Vehicle height	71 m^R (reported)	71 m^R (reported)
Liftoff mass	590 t^R (reported)	590 t^R (reported)
First-stage engines	9× Helix^R (reported)	9× TH-12^R (reported)
LEO payload capacity	~17 t^R (reported)	~17 t^R (reported)
Sun-synchronous orbit payload	~14 t^R (reported)	~14 t^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

5 updates

About Rocket Factory Augsburg

The team behind RFA One

Rocket Factory Augsburg

RFA One launcher, reusable rockets, European launch, staged combustion

Rocket Factory Augsburg develops the RFA One launcher using automotive manufacturing methods. The Falcon 9-class vehicle features the proprietary Helix staged-combustion engine and aims for reusability and low launch costs.

RFA is building RFA One, a 71-metre tall Falcon 9-class launcher with nine Helix staged-combustion engines, targeting first flight in 2026.
The company uses automotive manufacturing techniques to reduce costs and enable volume production of rockets.
RFA has secured over €100M in funding including €30M from KKR in 2023 and €46.78M in grants from the European Space Agency.

rfa.space (opens rfa.space)Company profile →

Founded: 20188 yrs
Headquarters: Germany
Status: Private
Valuation: private
Raised: $45M2 rounds
Last round: European Space Agency grant · $52MNov 2024
Works in: SpaceflightLaunch
Coverage: 1 program · 5 updateslatest 16 Jan 2025checked 10 Oct
Lead investors: KKR
Customers: European Space Agency (opens esa.int)
Investors: OHB SE (opens ohb.de)KKR (opens kkr.com)
People: Alexander Dahm (opens placera.se)Chief Executive OfficerJörn SpurmannChief Commercial Officer and FounderStefan BrieschenkChief Operating Officer and Founder

Spec

RFA One

Vehicle height

71 m^R (reported)

Liftoff mass

590 t^R (reported)

First-stage engines

9× Helix^R (reported)

LEO payload capacity

~17 t^R (reported)

Sun-synchronous orbit payload

~14 t^R (reported)

Spec

RFA One

Space Pioneer Tianlong-3

Vehicle height

71 m^R (reported)

Liftoff mass

590 t^R (reported)

First-stage engines

9× Helix^R (reported)

9× TH-12^R (reported)

LEO payload capacity

~17 t^R (reported)

Sun-synchronous orbit payload

~14 t^R (reported)

RFA One

Milestones

Most important updates

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Staged-combustion efficiency

Automotive manufacturing approach

First-stage recovery

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Thu 16 Jan 2025

Mon 19 Aug 2024

May 2024

Sep 2023

Jun 2023

About Rocket Factory Augsburg

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Staged-combustion efficiency

Automotive manufacturing approach

First-stage recovery

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Thu 16 Jan 2025

Mon 19 Aug 2024

May 2024

Sep 2023

Jun 2023

About Rocket Factory Augsburg