AUGSBURG, Germany, August 27, 2026 – Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has been selected to move forward in ESA’s European Launcher Challenge, strengthening Europe’s independent access to space.
We’re proud to share a major step forward: Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of the European Launcher Challenge (ELC).
This marks an important milestone on our journey toward a competitive and sovereign European launch capability.
With our RFA ONE launch vehicle, we’re helping shape the next generation of Europe’s small- and medium-class launcher ecosystem, and meeting the growing demand for reliable, independent access to space.
Together with ESA and our European partners, we’ll continue to advance our technology, industrial readiness, and operational capabilities.
Our thanks go to European Space Agency – ESA for the trust, support, and encouragement throughout this process. We’re equally grateful to Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V. and its leadership, Walther Pelzer, for initiating the ELC, and to Minister Dorothee Bär for the support from the German government.
Read ESA’s official announcement here.
About Rocket Factory
Rocket Factory Augsburg was founded in 2018 with the vision to enable data generating business models in space to better monitor, protect and connect our planet Earth. Against this background, the company’s goal is to offer flexible, customer-centric and European launch services into low Earth orbit. The RFA ONE launch service combines three key competitive advantages: A customer focused service with precise in-orbit delivery and a high degree of mission flexibility through its third stage “Redshift”; at a highly competitive price; made possible by the superior staged-combustion engine “Helix”, low-cost stainless-steel structures and usage of industrial components.
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Jean-Jacques Dordain
Board of Directors: Stefan Brieschenk, Günther Schullerer
Seat of the company: Augsburg
Registry Court: AG Augsburg, HRB 34251
USt-ID/Tax-ID: DE3194028
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