![\"SaxaVord](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2.81552409.jpg\")
SaxaVord Spaceport said it is supporting RFA (SaxaVord\/PA)<\/p>\nThe company which hopes to launch a space rocket from the northernmost edge of the UK is investigating an \u201cissue\u201d with the vehicle.<\/p>\n
German company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has chosen to \u201cde-stack\u201d its 30m-tall rocket, which is currently on a launchpad at SaxaVord Spaceport on the island of Unst.<\/p>\n
This means the three stages of the rocket, which is currently fully assembled, will be unstacked in order to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n
If the rocket, called RFA One, is launched successfully it would be the first time satellites have been carried into space from UK soil.<\/p>\n
A certified launch window is due to open on August 10 and it is understood the company had hoped to begin \u201chot fire\u201d testing of the rocket engines in the days ahead of this.<\/p>\n
SaxaVord Spaceport said it is supporting RFA (SaxaVord\/PA)<\/p>\n
The three-stage rocket is designed to deliver a payload of up to 1,300kg to a sun-synchronous orbit around Earth.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for RFA said: \u201cAfter a successful week of our test campaign pressuring the flight vehicle for the first time in preparation for the hot fire test of RFA One, an issue was encountered with the vehicle.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have made the decision to de-stack the vehicle in order to investigate and take corrective action where required.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will provide further updates as soon as confirmed information is available.\u201d<\/p>\n
SaxaVord Spaceport said in a statement: \u201cAs ever, we\u2019re working hard to support our client RFS on the launch site.\u201d<\/p>\n
A previous version of RFA\u2019s rocket suffered an engine fire which led to an explosion during a test at SaxaVord in August 2024.<\/p>\n
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