Submitting a name can be done online at www.rfa.space/nameourengine without registration. The submission is secret and, if desired, anonymous. There are no limits to the imagination, the name just has to be serious, free of copyrights, and be able to be briefly explained and justified. All submitted names will be presented to RFA and the top ten will then be put to a public vote on Twitter and Linkedin. Two rounds will be held to determine the final name: From the initial ten names, the top three are chosen and put to a public vote again, where the final name is chosen. The votes on both platforms are added together to determine the three finalists and the winning name.
The campaign will run for four weeks. Deadline for submitting names is February 20, the first round of voting will take place on February 23, the second and final round on February 28. The final name will be officially announced on March 3. The engine’s name giver will receive an official RFA certificate, engine hardware and a package of gifts from RFA.
About the engine
The RFA engine with staged combustion is one of the most advanced engine types in the world. Unlike engines with an open combustion cycle, in RFA´s staged combustion engine the exhaust gases from an oxygen-rich preburner are fed into the main combustion chamber after driving the turbopump. The fuel is thus burned more completely, increasing the engine’s efficiency by 7%, which translates into 30% more payload capacity of the RFA ONE micro launcher. Staged combustion is also more environmentally friendly, as significantly fewer highly sooty exhaust gases are released into the atmosphere.
The RFA engine is operated with RP-1 as propellant and liquid oxygen as oxidizer, has a thrust of 100kN and an Isp of 325s (SL) / 350s (Vac). Nine engines are used in the first stage, and one vacuum-optimized engine in the second stage.
Dr. Stefan Tweraser, Chief Executive Officer of RFA, says: “Part of our vision at RFA is to democratize access to space. However, this does not only refer to payloads. We want to be as transparent and open as possible and let everyone participate in our journey and development. Today, we want to go one step further and let the public play an active role in shaping it. The final name, perhaps suggested by a young boy or girl, will shape European spaceflight for years to come. And everyone who voted for that name will know they had a hand in it.”
Dr. Stefan Brieschenk, Chief Operating Officer at RFA, adds: “The RFA staged combustion engine is leading-edge technology combining performance and efficiency with modern, cost-effective manufacturing. Our staged combustion engine is the first of its kind in the European Union and will launch numerous satellites into low Earth orbit, as well as into higher orbits and even to the Moon, to better understand and protect our Earth. We are eagerly looking forward to a name that carries and reflects that spirit. Naming this engine is a truly unique opportunity and the name will become part of many articles, stories and conversations.”
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.
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
Chairman of Supervisory Board: Jean-Jacques Dordain
Executive Board: Stefan Tweraser, Stefan Brieschenk, Jörn Spurmann
Headquarter: Augsburg
Place of jurisdiction: AG Augsburg, HRB 34251
Tax-ID: DE319402838
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