Rocket Factory Augsburg

Michel Van said:
Rocket Factory Augsburg
In June 2023, they became the first European company to complete a full upper-stage test with a staged-combustion Helix engine.
https://www.rfa.space
Now RFA preset ARGO a successor of ESA ATV and its reusable.
https://www.rfa.space/ultimate-guide-to-argo/
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Ambitious, but playing around with the numbers They’ve given and their IAD model I get terminal speeds noticeably higher (2-3 times at least, minimum 45-50 kph if not more) than a Dragon capsule Splashdown, closer to a SRB splashdown speed, surely this mustn’t be good for bringing cargo back, they say they aren't using parachutes and the IAD "fully covers the deceleration prior to Splash-down",

I think they're gonna use some Soyuz-like retro-rocket (after all, the heatshield-end that will face the reentry plasma includes the Fenix orbital maneuvering thrusters, so adding some landing thrusters there must be possible)
 
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fredymac said:
German startup hoping to launch in 2022. Their rocket is roughly the same size/performance as Rocket Lab. I couldn't find a launch price but they state "low cost". They have a video on their website here:

https://www.rfa.space/mission/

View attachment 641874
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I find it a bit of a cool coincidence if there really is one, a German startup called "Rocket Factory Augsburg" whose initials RFA also means "République Fédérale d'Allemagne" in French.
 

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fredymac said:
German startup hoping to launch in 2022. Their rocket is roughly the same size/performance as Rocket Lab. I couldn't find a launch price but they state "low cost". They have a video on their website here:

https://www.rfa.space/mission/

View attachment 641874
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Older Reports claim that a launch cost of 3 million was the goal tought then the rocket also was only designed for so.e 200kg to LEO
 
https://www.golem.de/news/deutsche-...xplodiert-auf-teststand-2408-188166.html#cmts
A critical article by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer (professional european astronautics critic)
Personally the main criticism I've heard of them from former employee and people in the european launcher industry is that they're an intern farm and very reliant on them in some departments.

There have been a lot of talks about OHB pulling support but I don't believe it for now, RFA hasn't been a huge expense so far (reportedly on the order of 100M€) and has been Fuchs' pet project for years (actually the roots of RFA comes from various trade studies done by OHB on ESA order during the genesis of Ariane 6 - which came to the conclusion to go for a monocore kerolox launcher with russo-ukrainian-derived closed cycle engines, basically RFA One)
OHB also reportedly repeatedly tells investors they're fully commited to funding RFA to the maiden launch.

IMO the main risk is that the delays caused by this remove a lot of their first mover advantage... The late 2025 ESA Ministerial is an important deadline since it's where the funding for the ESA launcher challenge will be decided, so far RFA was by far the best positioned to prove a launcher before that date and show ESA a fait accompli... They probably had the margin to do at least two orbital launch attempt, now, not so much.
 
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Seems the issue is the Engine that RFA got from Ukraine company Yuzhnoye
they sell RFA a closed cycle engines that use oxygen rich hot gas for Turbopumps.
However according Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer is this oxygen rich hot gas highly corrosive.
and it seems that RFA has issues with that kind of technology

OHB mention by TheKutKu is the mother company of RFA

source:
https://www.golem.de/news/deutsche-...xplodiert-auf-teststand-2408-188166.html#cmts
 
Michel Van said:
Seems the issue is the Engine that RFA got from Ukraine company Yuzhnoye
they sell RFA a closed cycle engines that use oxygen rich hot gas for Turbopumps.
However according Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer is this oxygen rich hot gas highly corrosive.
and it seems that RFA has issues with that kind of technology

OHB mention by TheKutKu is the mother company of RFA

source:
https://www.golem.de/news/deutsche-...xplodiert-auf-teststand-2408-188166.html#cmts
Click to expand...
Yeah tought they are developing there own engine too.
 
kqcke for you said:
Yeah tought they are developing there own engine too.
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Perhaps the Yuzhnoye engine was intended as an interim 'slot in' measure, allowing RFA to develop their own in-house engine at a less frenetic pace? Though if so, it seems to have not worked out quite as planned.
 
The flight engines are all made in-house, Helix is an adapted, German-built version of Yuzhnoye's RD-809K.

Ukrainian-made components were used only for development and they don't currently depend on any Ukrainian suppliers.

The current engine is "final", of course it'll be improved but they don't plan on replacing it.
 
Rocket Factory Augsburg
@rfa_space
Update: RFA has submitted its application for the marine license for Test Flight 1 from
@SaxaVord_Space
. For the first time, the application also specifies a potential launch window, which will open NET (no earlier than) July 1, 2026.

This is a legally required step for planning, and a good sign of how far we’ve come - but it’s not a launch date just yet.

We applied for this window because we’re working hard to be ready - and we’re getting closer every day.

So: the application means we’re entering a new phase of preparation. Still, as with any first-ever launch, there are uncertainties, and the schedule may evolve.

Further specific details around launch timing will be released through the appropriate channels closer to the time. We’ll keep you posted!
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2048672244516393201
View: https://twitter.com/rfa_space/status/2048672244516393201
 

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