Precious Payload and
Rocket Factory partner to offer upcoming RFA
launches from Europe online via Launch.ctrl platform
Precious Payloadh as included
upcoming Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) launches to
its comprehensive launch schedule dubbed Launch.ctrl
for commercial satellites. This formalizes the plan
for Precious Payload to onboard a new rideshare
provider to create more launch opportunities for
payload developers. Satellite teams will be able to
easily find upcoming RFA missions online from a
variety of launch sites including European
facilities in the United Kingdom, French Guiana, and
others. RFA is targeting end-of 2023 for its first
launch.
“The demand for access to
cost-effective, last-mile delivery launches is
growing rapidly from customers with payloads of all
sizes and types,” said Andrew Maximov, CEO and
co-founder of Precious Payload. “Having multiple
launch options across different price points,
orbital destinations, and facility locations is a
key feature for our savvy payload developer
customers. RFA brings increased price
competitiveness and launch frequency from various
launch locations throughout Europe. We’re looking
forward to extending our launch vehicle portfolio
and rideshare services to now include RFA ONE, and
we wish them well on their upcoming maiden flight.”
Leveraging its location in the
hub of the German automobile manufacturing industry,
RFA has worked to minimize launch system costs using
its unique serial production and assembly approach.
RFA ONE is a three-stage, 30-meter rocket that can
deliver up to 1,350 kg to a polar Earth orbit. The
company successfully completed the first test
campaign of its Helix flight configuration engine in
July 2022, confirming its trajectory towards service
commercialization. RFA has already signed launch
contracts with the German government and about a
dozen other customers for launches starting in 2023.
The RFA ONE rocket is expected to launch up to fifty
times per year in the future, delivering satellites
into near-Earth orbit precisely and reliably at a
highly competitive price point.
The Launch.ctrl platform by
Precious Payload is designed to minimize costs and
development timelines while maximizing launch
schedule reliability and mission assurance. Beyond
merely functioning as a marketplace for satellite
launches, its templates for mission description and
workplace for team collaboration bridge the gap
between payload engineers and launch provider´s
business development, sales, marketing, and launch
management teams.
“Precious Payload has pioneered
and truly defined the online rideshare marketplace
and we’re thrilled to distribute our future launches
via their Launch.ctrl platform,” commented Jörn
Spurmann, Chief Commercial Officer of RFA. “The
software is a lead magnet for every payload
developer looking for a launch or other related
services, from insurance to SSA tools. Together with
their expertise and insights into the launch and
in-space transportation market, we can provide the
industry with more flexibility, a simple and
intuitive booking process and options for
competitively priced launches to LEO and beyond.”
Earlier this year, Precious
Payload unveiled a new version of its commercial
launch schedule, and released customized pages for
launch providers, their vehicles, and upcoming
missions with all available launch service operators
(including brokers and OTVs). Using Precious
Payload’s robust Launch.ctrl platform, payload
developers around the globe can easily browse every
potential commercial launch for their spacecraft.
|