Image courtesy RFA, Southern Launch

European launch service provider, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), has announced a partnership with South Australia’s Southern Launch for the launch of RFA ONE from Southern Launch’s Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex.

The agreement will enable RFA to provide flexible, low-cost, and precise launch services with its RFA ONE from a regional spaceport in the Asia-Pacific region.

The three-stage small rocket, which has a staged combustion engine and orbital stage, can deliver up to 1,350 kg to a 300-km polar orbit. The rocket is 30 metres high and 2 metres wide.

The RFA ONE is expected to launch up to 50 times per year, delivering satellites into near-Earth orbit quickly and reliably at a highly competitive price point

“Launching from South Australia allows us to offer our launch services in a highly customer-oriented way from a regional spaceport in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Jörn Spurmann, RFA’s Chief Commercial Officer.

“It marks a central milestone in our strategy for a globally distributed launch capability. With various launch sites around the world, we minimize our customers’ logistics and time constraints and lay the infrastructural foundation for a weekly launch cadence.

“Southern Launch offers a comprehensive and competitive service to launch our rockets. We could not have wished for a better partner.”

“This partnership further demonstrates Australia’s world-class space launch capabilities to the international space industry,” said Lloyd Damp, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Launch.

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