RFA ONE launch delayed: rocket pulled from pad over tank issue, window lost

The first European rocket from private firm Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) will not fly during the planned August-September window. Engineers removed the RFA ONE vehicle from the launch pad at the SaxaVord spaceport in the Shetland Islands and returned it to the hangar after spotting a problem with the tanks during tests. The spaceport has already cancelled the five-week launch window, although earlier notices had allowed for an attempt as early as August 10.

Markus Fuchs, head of parent company OHB, which owns 65% of RFA, said on August 6 that engineers wanted to make sure they fully understand what the test results showed, hence the extra check of the propellant tanks. No details of the fault have been disclosed, nor the time needed to fix it, and OHB has not given a new launch date. The rocket is expected to return to the pad after the inspection, with the first test flight tentatively moved to late 2026.

RFA ONE is a light-class launch vehicle capable of delivering about 0.5 tonnes of payload to orbit. The upcoming mission would be its orbital debut. The company is one of four participants in the European Launcher Challenge run by the European Space Agency (ESA) and has received €187 million in funding, with the initial tranche set at €30 million.

Part of that money is earmarked for the RFA ONE Block 2 variant, scheduled for a first launch in 2028. The version will feature upgraded engines, boosting payload capacity to 1.5 tonnes, and the first stage will be designed for recovery and reuse. In parallel, OHB is pushing for a higher launch cadence for the heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket, with options under review being 12, 15 or 20 launches per year versus the currently stated capability of 9–10.