Satellite launch company RFA UK (Rocket Factory Ltd) has received £3.5 million from taxpayers to support its plans to launch from SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands
The taxpayer funding was awarded by the UK Space Agency as part of the European Space Agency (ESA), Boost! Programme, which aims to help innovative companies develop new launch technologies and bring them to market.
RFA UK will use the taxpayer funding to develop and operate the infrastructure and test equipment needed to enable them to launch from SaxaVord Spaceport and are planning to launch in Q2 2024. RFA UK and SaxaVord Spaceport anticipate around 90 skilled jobs will be created locally when the spaceport reaches full operational capability including spaceport operations and administration, integration, testing and launch.
A subsidiary of Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA AG), the UK company is headquartered in Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland. RFA AG will have exclusive access to SaxaVord’s ‘Fredo’ launch pad from where it plans to provide a regular cadence of launch services as one of the spaceport’s anchor customers.
Measuring 30 metres tall and 2 metres wide, the RFA ONE launch vehicle is a three-stage launch vehicle capable of deploying up to 1,300 kg to a 500 km polar orbit. The rocket uses efficient and environmentally friendly Helix staged-combustion engines, stainless steel tanks and standardised components from other industries to offer flexible, low-cost and precise transportation into orbit with its Redshift OTV.
George Freeman MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
Matt Archer, Director of Launch, UK Space Agency said:
RFA UK was set-up to implement and operate launch-specific system and test equipment to support RFA AG’s planned launches from SaxaVord Spaceport.
Jörn Spurmann, Managing Director, RFA UK and Chief Commercial Officer, RFA AG, said:
Other taxpayer funding provided by the UK Space Agency to support launch activities includes £23.4 million in 2 separate grants to Lockheed Martin to establish launch operations from SaxaVord Spaceport and to build a small launch orbital manoeuvring vehicle in Reading which will launch on Lockheed Martin’s pathfinder launch from the site.
Scott Hammond, SaxaVord Spaceport deputy CEO, said:
UK government Minister for Scotland, John Lamont, said: