RFA (Rocket Factory Augsburg), a German space tech scale-up and launch service provider, is on a mission to revolutionise the space industry by offering cost-effective and highly customisable rocket launch services. As one of the few European companies in the competitive space launch market, RFA is leveraging innovative engineering and strategic partnerships to carve out a niche in the rapidly growing satellite industry – and doing it as part of EIC Scaling Club’s New Space group. 

We caught up with Jonas Kellner, Head of Marketing and Communications at RFA, to learn more about the company and how it plans to improve on the currently available satellite launch service offering. As Jonas puts it:

“Current providers are offering a bus to space – launches at specific times, only goes a specific route, and then you’re dropped off at a bus station. RFA wants to be the taxi for your satellites – delivering your satellite when and where you need it, at the price of a bus ticket”. 

A rocket that can do more for less

Founded in 2018, RFA is developing the RFA ONE, a 30-meter-tall, two-meter-wide, three-stage launch vehicle designed to transport satellites into orbit with unprecedented efficiency and flexibility. RFA’s strategy is built on three key pillars: cost leadership, advanced propulsion technology, and customer-centric service. 

The company uses stainless steel for its rocket stages, a material that is not only affordable and widely available but also ideal for serial production. This approach allows RFA to manufacture rockets more efficiently, with the goal of achieving reusability for the first stage in the future. 

The RFA ONE is powered by its Helix engine, a staged combustion engine that sets the company apart in Europe. Unlike traditional open-cycle engines, the Helix engine operates in a closed cycle, maximising fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impact. This advanced propulsion system enables RFA to offer 30% more payload capacity than competitors, allowing the company to deliver 1.3 tons of payload to orbit at a competitive cost.

RFA’s third stage, known as Redshift OTV (Orbital Transfer Vehicle), is unique in the industry. Unlike traditional launch vehicles that deploy satellites in fixed orbits, Redshift OTV acts as a “space taxi,” capable of delivering multiple satellites to different orbits with precision. This flexibility is a significant advantage for customers who require tailored launch solutions, making RFA a preferred choice for small satellite operators with specific requirements.

A growing team with a global vision

RFA’s team of nearly 300 employees from 45 different nationalities reflects the company’s global ambitions. Founded by Stefan Brieschenk, who previously worked at Rocket Lab, and Jörn Spurmann, a veteran of the German Space Agency (DLR), RFA has grown into a diverse and highly skilled organisation. The company operates across four locations in Germany, Sweden, Scotland, and Portugal, each playing a critical role in the development and testing of the RFA ONE.

RFA’s next major milestone is the hot-fire test of its first stage with all nine engines, followed by the stacking of the full vehicle for its inaugural test flight in the second half of 2025. The company has already secured customers for its first two test flights by winning DLR’s Microlauncher competition. But there are more waiting in line – demand for space launch services is very high, and RFA already has an impressive pipeline, says Jonas. 

It’s rocket science

Building a rocket is no small feat, and RFA has faced its share of challenges. The complexity of developing a staged combustion engine, coupled with the need to withstand extreme conditions during launch, has required significant technical expertise and rigorous testing. The company has successfully hot-fired its engines and qualified its second and third stages for flight, with the first stage currently undergoing final testing. 

Financing such an ambitious project has also been a hurdle, though RFA also exhibits the financial efficiency typical to European space tech companies – doing more with less – especially when compared to their American counterparts. To get this far, RFA has relied on strategic investments, including support from OHB, one of Europe’s largest satellite manufacturers. Jonas highlights their partnership as invaluable because, unlike typical VC investors looking to turn a quick profit, having an investor who may become a future customer comes with a long-term perspective.

That said, at this stage, all funding matters.

“The company is always seeking additional funding to accelerate development and commercialisation efforts,” says Jonas. 

Joining the EIC Scaling Club

RFA’s membership in the EIC Scaling Club is a strategic move to accelerate its growth. The company is leveraging the club’s network for investor outreach, partnerships, and mentorship opportunities. 

“By connecting with other deep tech scale-ups and industry experts, we aim to strengthen our position in the global space industry through learning, finding synergies, and growing partnerships,” explains Jonas. 

With its innovative approach and ambitious goals, RFA is poised to make waves in the space industry, offering a new standard for cost-effective and flexible satellite launches.

About the EIC Scaling Club

The EIC Scaling Club is a curated community where 120+ European deep tech scale-ups with the potential to build world-class businesses and solve major global challenges come together with investors, corporate innovators and other industry stakeholders to spur growth.

The top 120+ European deep tech companies will be carefully selected from a pool of high-growth scale-ups that have benefitted from EIC financial schemes, other European and national innovation programmes, and beyond.

The EIC Scaling Club is an EIC-funded initiative run in partnership by Tech Tour, Bpifrance (EuroQuity), Hello Tomorrow, Tech.eu (Webrazzi), EurA and IESE Business School.

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