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Rocket Factory Augsburg

@rfa_space • 21,929 subscribers

Opening easy, frequent, and low-cost access to #space to better understand & protect our Earth with data from space. RFA flies into space to get closer to Earth

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Our first test flight is just the beginning! Behind the scenes, we are focused on up-scaling and improving our technology. We are excited to announce that we have successfully tested the central subsystem of our Helix 2.0 oxygen-rich staged-combustion engine: the powerpack. We have performed two successful hot-fire tests in which we have shown steady-state operation and cavitation limits. The powerpack incorporates the turbopump and pre-burner(s). It is the most complex as well as the most mechanically and thermally stressed subsystem of a staged-combustion engine. This milestone validated key technological challenges, such as the simultaneous ignition of multiple pre-burners and turbopump cavitation performance. The results are in-line with the predictions from our design models. The closed-cycle architecture of Helix allows us to push the performance envelope further: Helix 2.0 is designed to deliver double the thrust (200kN), while mass, production technology and costs remain comparable to Helix 1.0. The result for our customers: more payload for a lower budget! Excited about this news? Check out our career portal for employment opportunities and help us to elevate our Helix staged-combustion engine technology to the next level! ➡️

Our first test flight is just the beginning! Behind the scenes, we are focused on up-scaling and improving our technology. We are excited to announce that we have successfully tested the central subsystem of our Helix 2.0 oxygen-rich staged-combustion engine: the powerpack. We have performed two successful hot-fire tests in which we have shown steady-state operation and cavitation limits. The powerpack incorporates the turbopump and pre-burner(s). It is the most complex as well as the most mechanically and thermally stressed subsystem of a staged-combustion engine. This milestone validated key technological challenges, such as the simultaneous ignition of multiple pre-burners and turbopump cavitation performance. The results are in-line with the predictions from our design models. The closed-cycle architecture of Helix allows us to push the performance envelope further: Helix 2.0 is designed to deliver double the thrust (200kN), while mass, production technology and costs remain comparable to Helix 1.0. The result for our customers: more payload for a lower budget! Excited about this news? Check out our career portal for employment opportunities and help us to elevate our Helix staged-combustion engine technology to the next level! ➡️

31,030 Aufrufe

Videos

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First fire! 🔥 We have successfully kicked off the hot fire campaign for our first stage at SaxaVord Spaceport UK. We hot-fired a total of four Helix engines, igniting one by one at four second intervals. All engines ran simultaneously for 8 seconds with a total hot-fire duration of 20 seconds. The test ran flawlessly through start-up, steady-state and shutdown. With this hot fire, we were able to demonstrate that we can nominally operate and control our first stage and all its systems, as well as a cluster of Helix engines. RFA and our incredible team are marching steadfastly on towards our first test flight, not only in Scotland but also in Augsburg, Portugal and Sweden. Special thanks to our partners at SaxaVord Spaceport UK for their support at all levels.

First fire! 🔥 We have successfully kicked off the hot fire campaign for our first stage at SaxaVord Spaceport UK. We hot-fired a total of four Helix engines, igniting one by one at four second intervals. All engines ran simultaneously for 8 seconds with a total hot-fire duration of 20 seconds. The test ran flawlessly through start-up, steady-state and shutdown. With this hot fire, we were able to demonstrate that we can nominally operate and control our first stage and all its systems, as well as a cluster of Helix engines. RFA and our incredible team are marching steadfastly on towards our first test flight, not only in Scotland but also in Augsburg, Portugal and Sweden. Special thanks to our partners at SaxaVord Spaceport UK for their support at all levels.

Rocket Factory Augsburg

406,205 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

UPDATE on our S1 test anomaly! Our first stage is gone – but we have collected a significant amount of data and film footage. After reviewing it, we want to share some insights into the technical analysis, preliminary conclusions and our next steps ⬇️

UPDATE on our S1 test anomaly! Our first stage is gone – but we have collected a significant amount of data and film footage. After reviewing it, we want to share some insights into the technical analysis, preliminary conclusions and our next steps ⬇️

Rocket Factory Augsburg

167,113 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

280 seconds of glorious hot fire! 🔥 We are incredibly proud to be the 1st private company in #Europe (🤯) to hot fire a staged-combustion upper stage for its full duration. This qualifies our upper stage and Helix engine for flight 🚀 Enjoy the video and read more in our press release ➡️

280 seconds of glorious hot fire! 🔥 We are incredibly proud to be the 1st private company in #Europe (🤯) to hot fire a staged-combustion upper stage for its full duration. This qualifies our upper stage and Helix engine for flight 🚀 Enjoy the video and read more in our press release ➡️

Rocket Factory Augsburg

254,053 Aufrufe • vor 3 Jahren

We just keep going! RFA ONE's first stage arrived safely in SaxaVord and has been lifted onto the launch pad. The RFA UK team is currently working hard to prepare it for our first hot fire campaign. Who's as excited as we are? 🙋‍♂️

We just keep going! RFA ONE's first stage arrived safely in SaxaVord and has been lifted onto the launch pad. The RFA UK team is currently working hard to prepare it for our first hot fire campaign. Who's as excited as we are? 🙋‍♂️

Rocket Factory Augsburg

179,419 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

Literally shaking! Behind the scenes of a special test 🚀 Earlier this year, Redshift, our third stage, completed a full vibration test campaign in flight configuration! Unlike isolated component checks, this was the real deal: all systems integrated and tested under simulated launch conditions. Because launch is no gentle ride. Everything must endure intense vibrations and still perform flawlessly. The result? Electronic connections remained strong, the systems (including antennas, telemetry, flight computer, navigation systems) stayed up and running, and we obtained valuable data to further refine and improve. Enjoy this glimpse of Team Redshift and their work behind the scenes, turning challenges into progress, one test at a time!

Literally shaking! Behind the scenes of a special test 🚀 Earlier this year, Redshift, our third stage, completed a full vibration test campaign in flight configuration! Unlike isolated component checks, this was the real deal: all systems integrated and tested under simulated launch conditions. Because launch is no gentle ride. Everything must endure intense vibrations and still perform flawlessly. The result? Electronic connections remained strong, the systems (including antennas, telemetry, flight computer, navigation systems) stayed up and running, and we obtained valuable data to further refine and improve. Enjoy this glimpse of Team Redshift and their work behind the scenes, turning challenges into progress, one test at a time!

Rocket Factory Augsburg

34,543 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten

We're coming in hot (fire) with an update on our third stage: We have completed a full duration hot fire of the fully integrated Redshift OTV, qualifying it for flight. As always, our approach for this hot fire was to get as close to the real thing as possible. So it included a nearly 600s (10 minutes!) burn after an assumed stage separation, followed by a 40 minute coasting phase simulation, and a 30s orbit circularization burn. Welcome to LEO! The team will now prepare the fully qualified Redshift OTV for its shipment to SaxaVord, where it will be integrated with the payloads for the first test flight later this year. Enjoy the video with a look behind the scenes ⬇️

We're coming in hot (fire) with an update on our third stage: We have completed a full duration hot fire of the fully integrated Redshift OTV, qualifying it for flight. As always, our approach for this hot fire was to get as close to the real thing as possible. So it included a nearly 600s (10 minutes!) burn after an assumed stage separation, followed by a 40 minute coasting phase simulation, and a 30s orbit circularization burn. Welcome to LEO! The team will now prepare the fully qualified Redshift OTV for its shipment to SaxaVord, where it will be integrated with the payloads for the first test flight later this year. Enjoy the video with a look behind the scenes ⬇️

Rocket Factory Augsburg

46,968 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Explore Argo, our cost-effective cargo capsule with end-to-end service for €150M/launch for 4,000kg up-and-down mass & 15.5m³ pressurized cargo volume. Developed with Space Cargo Unlimited & ATMOS Space Cargo, Argo is our commitment to rebuilding independent European space cargo capabilities.

Explore Argo, our cost-effective cargo capsule with end-to-end service for €150M/launch for 4,000kg up-and-down mass & 15.5m³ pressurized cargo volume. Developed with Space Cargo Unlimited & ATMOS Space Cargo, Argo is our commitment to rebuilding independent European space cargo capabilities.

Rocket Factory Augsburg

30,206 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

In the first episode of "Meet the Team", our propulsion engineer Philipp introduces you to his department and his work 🔥 How did he get into rockets, what is the Helix engine all about and what makes working at RFA so special? Find out in this video and let us know which other departments or roles you would like to learn more about!

In the first episode of "Meet the Team", our propulsion engineer Philipp introduces you to his department and his work 🔥 How did he get into rockets, what is the Helix engine all about and what makes working at RFA so special? Find out in this video and let us know which other departments or roles you would like to learn more about!

Rocket Factory Augsburg

15,370 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

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