Plus Ultra Space Outpost and RFA sign agreement for GTO launch

First lunar constellation satellite to travel to the Moon in 2023

October 28, 2021

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 28 October 2021 – Plus Ultra Space Outpost (Plus Ultra) and Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) have jointly signed an agreement for launching a demonstrator mission to the Moon.

RFA will launch Plus Ultra’s demonstrator mission towards the end of 2023 on the RFA ONE launch system. Plus Ultra’s first satellite will launch into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), from where it will use its own propulsion to reach lunar orbit and become the first satellite to initialize Plus Ultra’s cislunar constellation “Harmony”. The satellite will also be the first private orbiter with electric propulsion going to and orbiting the Moon.

Through Harmony’s commercial communications and navigation services for upcoming lunar missions, Plus Ultra will change the paradigm of lunar operations. It’ll turn communications and navigation from a carefully managed resource into an on-demand, dependable service that enables new capabilities on the Moon, like continuous remote operations, pinpoint landings, precise surface navigation, and polar and far side access.

The satellite will reach its operational orbit in 2024, providing the first 24/7 high-speed broadband communications of up to 100 Mbps per user between the Moon, including cislunar orbit, and anywhere on Earth.

Jörn Spurmann, Chief Commercial Officer from RFA: “It is very encouraging to see new business models emerge for commercial services in the cis-lunar orbit. We are particularly proud that Plus Ultra has chosen our launch system RFA ONE confirming our traction in the launch service market.”

Carlos Manuel Entrena Utrilla, founder and CEO of Plus Ultra, said: “We are aiming to become the backbone of the cis-lunar industry. With more than 140 lunar missions planned for this decade, more than all Moon missions in history combined, the upcoming lunar market is prime for disruption.”

Sebastian Ströhl, founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Plus Ultra said: “RFA’s launch vehicle fits our needs perfectly in performance and price, and will allow us to get an early start in the race for the lunar economy.”

About Rocket Factory

Rocket Factory Augsburg was founded in 2018 with the mission to significantly reduce launch costs in the space industry. The company’s goal is to develop a launch vehicle prototype by the end of 2022 which can launch satellites into low Earth orbits on a weekly basis at unmatched prices. The RFA ONE launch vehicle combines three key competitive advantages: a highly cost-efficient architecture using industrial automation and lowest-possible development costs, precise in-orbit delivery by its orbital stage, and superior propulsion systems using staged-combustion.

About Plus Ultra Space Outpost

Plus Ultra is a new European company based in Spain, Germany and Luxembourg aiming to deploy and operate a satellite constellation for the Moon, required for the accelerated development and sustainability of the fast-growing lunar economy. With this game changing communication and navigation infrastructure, offering global highspeed broadband connectivity and precise navigation on the Moon and cislunar orbit, Plus Ultra aims to become the backbone of the lunar economy. For clients this means commercial and scientific ROI maximisation, maximum access to the Moon and to cislunar orbit, substantial risk minimisation as well as significant cost reduction.

Plus Ultra’s constellation “Harmony” is projected to begin its initial operations in 2024.

Press Contact Plus Ultra:

Harry Pirrwitz

Email: harry@ciceroandfriends.com

Mobile: +44 (0)73 9252 5980

Press Contact for RFA:

Mr. Jonas Kellner

Phone +49 821 999576-21

Email: jonas.kellner@rfa.space

Rocket Factory Augsburg AG

Berliner Allee 65

D-86153 Augsburg