Ukraine-based Lunar Research Service has selected to launch a technology demonstrator aboard the maiden flight of the Rocket Factory Augsburg RFA One.
German launch startup Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) was founded in 2018. The company is developing its three-stage RFA One launch vehicle that is designed to be capable of carrying 1,350 kilograms to polar orbit.
Announced 18 November, the launch contract will see RFA launch a demonstrator mission for Lunar Research Service (LRS) that will test key technologies for an upcoming mission to the Moon. The mission is expected to be launched from Andøya, Norway towards the end of 2022.
“The contract is a demonstration of our attractive rideshare service pricing,” said RFA CEO Jörn Spurmann. “We are honored by the trust from LRS to embark on our maiden launch and are looking forward to its joint preparation.”
The LRS payload is currently the only passenger slated to launch aboard the maiden RFA One flight. However, with confirmation from RFA that the flight will be a rideshare mission, additional payloads may be added over the next year leading up to the late 2022 launch.
[yop_poll id=”2″]
