Space / Rocket company keen to get back on SaxaVord launch pad ‘as soon as possible’
GERMAN rocket company RFA is hoping to get back on the launch pad in the SaxaVord Spaceport in Unst “as soon as possible”.
It comes after a “hot fire” test at the spaceport in August saw rocket equipment go up in flames due to an “anomaly”.
This has pushed back RFA’s plans to undertake a full test launch from Unst to 2025.
A spokesperson for the German company – which is making rockets for launching satellites into space – told Shetland News this week that work continues on improving the reliability of its launch systems.
“In Augsburg, RFA is fully engaged in building and qualifying both the new first stage structures and the nine Helix engines,” they said.
“More than 100 improvements are already planned across all systems to make them even more reliable, safe and effective.”
The spokesperson said the launch pad was undamaged following August’s incident and “only minor repairs are needed to the interior of the launch stool”.
They added: “RFA plans to have the new, improved first stage on the launch pad at SaxaVord Spaceport as soon as possible.
“The first test flight is now planned for 2025.”
Launch plans delayed as rocket firm shares footage from test incident
Speaking on a video on social media this week, SaxaVord Spaceport’s business development developer Robin Huber described August’s incident as a “successful failure”.
SaxaVord chief executive Frank Strang previously said safety protocols worked as planned during the test.
He had also said it was an accepted fact within the space industry that failures during tests were inevitable.
Speaking in SaxaVord’s latest newsletter, Strang said: “RFA will rectify the situation and carry on with their programme.
“Like all in the sector their team are passionate, committed and ultra professional in how they go about their business, and we at SaxaVord have nothing but praise for them.
“Because our own personnel carried out their duties and roles professionally and with their normal good-natured approach nobody was injured or hurt. They followed the protocols set down under our spaceport licence.”
The newsletter also confirmed that development of another launch pad at the site – named Elizabeth – will commence shortly as “SaxaVord actively expands its roster of clients”.
Meanwhile representatives of SaxaVord Spaceport were recently in attendance at the first International Symposium on Small Launchers and Spaceports.
The “technically focused” event, held in Oxfordshire at the end of October, was co-hosted by the UK and European space agencies.
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