A German space rocket company has moved closer to a summer blast-off from Shetland after applying for a marine licence required for its first launch. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has for the first time specified a potential launch window, stating it would take place no earlier than July 1, 2026.
The launch window is expected to last several weeks, with the company attempting to launch on specific days within that period. A successful mission would mark the first time satellites have been carried into space from UK soil.
A marine licence is necessary because the first stage of the 30-metre-tall RFA One rocket will fall into the sea as it ascends toward orbit. The three-stage rocket is designed to deliver a 1,300 kg payload to a sun-synchronous orbit around Earth.
The German company confirmed the application had been submitted but emphasised that a launch date has not yet been set. In a statement, RFA said: "For the first time, the application also specifies a potential launch window, which will open NET (no earlier than) July 1, 2026. This is a legally required step for planning and a good sign of how far we have come – but it is not a launch date just yet."
The company added: "We applied for this window because we are working hard to be ready – and we are getting closer every day. So: the application means we are entering a new phase of preparation. Still, as with any first-ever launch, there are uncertainties and the schedule may evolve."
A spokesman for SaxaVord Spaceport, situated at the northernmost tip of the inhabited part of the UK, said: "We are hard at work supporting @rfa_space as they prepare for the first test flight. Further details around launch timing will be shared through the appropriate channels closer to the time."
In January 2025, RFA was officially licensed for spaceflight by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). SaxaVord Spaceport has also been granted a spaceport licence and a range control licence by the CAA, meaning the marine licence is the next stage in the regulatory approval process.
The Scottish Government’s marine directorate can issue licences for "marine deposit activities". A number of companies plan to use SaxaVord Spaceport as a hub for commercial rockets, hoping to tap into global demand for satellite launches.
