Photo: Rocket Factory Augsburg

As it gears up for a critical first launch, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has made a major change at the executive level. The German rocket startup appointed Dr. Indulis Kalnins as its new CEO, announced April 11.

Kalnins is an experienced space engineer who will lead RFA ahead of the first launch of RFA ONE. Together with the RFA team he will focus entirely on the initial test flight of the rocket.

Kalnins replaces former CEO Stefan Tweraser, who was with the company for more than 3.5 years.

RFA is preparing for an orbital vertical launch from the SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland. In January, the company received its spaceflight operator license from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). In combination with the spaceport license and the range control license from SaxaVord Spaceport, RFA now has all three critical regulatory approvals required for a test flight in 2025.

“I have known RFA since it was founded almost seven years ago and have always followed its progress with great interest. I have been working with RFA for some time now, so I know that I have a great, motivated, and technically excellent team that is eager to get off to a successful launch as quickly as possible,” Kalnins said in a statement.

COO Dr. Stefan Brieschenk and CCO Jörn Spurmann recently extended their appointments to the executive board and will remain in their current positions.