RFA One Maiden Flight: Launch Time & How to Watch (31 Aug 2026)

What is launching?

Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is preparing for the maiden flight of RFA One, a milestone that would make it one of the first orbital launches from continental European soil. The mission lifts off from Launch Pad Fredo at SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.

As a first flight of an all-new vehicle, this is a high-risk test mission. The primary goal is to gather flight data and demonstrate the rocket's core systems, from liftoff through stage separation and orbital insertion.

When is the RFA One launch?

The launch is currently targeted for 31 August 2026 at 00:00 UTC. This is a no-earlier-than (NET) date, and the status is listed as TBD, meaning the schedule remains subject to change as RFA completes vehicle testing, static fires, and range approvals.

Because this is a debut launch, expect the date to firm up only in the final weeks. You can follow the latest confirmed timing on our rocket launch schedule.

What is RFA One?

RFA One is a three-stage orbital launch vehicle developed by Rocket Factory Augsburg, a German company founded in 2018 as part of the OHB group. The rocket is designed to serve the growing small-satellite market, offering dedicated and rideshare launches to low Earth orbit and sun-synchronous orbit.

The vehicle uses staged-combustion engines burning liquid oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel (RP-1), an efficient cycle rarely attempted by newspace startups. Its design emphasizes low-cost, series production techniques to keep launch prices competitive. RFA has said the rocket is capable of carrying payloads of roughly one to 1.3 tonnes to LEO, positioning it among Europe's most capable emerging small launchers.

Why does this maiden flight matter?

Europe has long relied on Arianespace and, more recently, external providers for orbital access. A successful RFA One flight would help establish sovereign European launch capability for small satellites and prove out SaxaVord Spaceport as an operational orbital launch site. The company suffered a setback during an earlier ground test, so this maiden attempt carries significant weight for both RFA and the European launch sector.

Where is SaxaVord Spaceport?

SaxaVord Spaceport is located on the island of Unst, the northernmost of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Its high-latitude location is ideal for reaching polar and sun-synchronous orbits, with launch trajectories heading north over open ocean. It is one of several UK spaceports being developed to host vertical orbital launches.

How to watch the RFA One launch live

Rocket Factory Augsburg is expected to provide a webcast for the maiden flight, though details are typically confirmed close to launch day. When the mission goes live, you'll be able to:

• Follow the countdown and liftoff on RFA's official channels
• Track the rocket and its deployed payloads in real time on the Cosmik 3D live map
• Check the latest updates and hold announcements on our launch news feed

If you want to learn how orbital tracking works, our guide on how to track satellites explains what happens after a payload separates from the upper stage.

What could delay the launch?

Maiden flights are almost always subject to slips. Common factors include vehicle qualification testing, weather at the exposed Shetland site, range safety clearances, and final software and integration checks. Given the TBD status, treat 31 August 2026 as a working target rather than a firm date, and enable alerts so you don't miss a change.

Launch data for this mission is sourced from The Space Devs Launch Library API.

Follow the mission live on Cosmik

Don't miss RFA One's historic first flight. Follow the countdown live on Cosmik's launch tracker, watch any deployed satellites appear on our real-time 3D solar system and satellite map, and turn on free launch alerts to get notified the moment the schedule is confirmed.