German launch company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has confirmed that it is now targeting 2027 for the inaugural flight of its RFA ONE rocket from a Scottish launch facility.
The revised target for the rocket’s inaugural flight was announced in a post published on the company’s LinkedIn page on 3 November. The post detailed a visit from Walther Pelzer, Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR.
“We discussed what it takes to turn RFA into a global launch service provider,” the 3 November post explained. “In doing so, we received invaluable input, along with a clear expectation for 2027, one we fully share: the successful first flight of RFA ONE, the objective we’re now rallying behind on our #RoadtoLaunch.”
The statement marks the first time RFA has publicly acknowledged a 2027 launch target since the rocket planned for the flight was destacked for an investigation. The company has not yet provided a more specific launch window.
RFA announced in March that it had delivered the first and second stages of RFA ONE to SaxaVord in Scotland, with an inaugural flight planned for the summer. The vehicle was subsequently fully integrated and stacked on the launch pad in July ahead of a planned first-stage static fire test.
On 28 July, RFA announced that it had encountered an issue during testing that required the vehicle to be de-stacked for further investigation and potential corrective action. The company did not disclose the nature of the issue at the time. The setback did, however, result in the cancellation of a five-week launch window scheduled to open on 10 August.
During an earnings call on 6 August, Marco Fuchs, CEO of RFA’s majority shareholder OHB, which holds a 65.1% stake in the launch company, stated that “the first test flight is still planned for later this year.”
Fuchs explained that the rocket had been returned to the integration hall to allow engineers to re-examine its tanks, adding that it would be re-erected on the launch pad soon. He did, however, acknowledge the possibility that additional delays could arise.
“It will be re-erected soon, but as you know, launching rockets sometimes takes a few detours,” he said.
