Rocket Factory Augsburg is a young international space startup. It was founded in 2018 as a spin-off of the OHB Group on the belief that flexible access to space will revolutionize space services and the way we can improve life on earth. RFA is developing space launch solutions for low cost access to space in a unique set up.
For 3 months during the summer of 2025, I interned at RFA within the Systems Engineering Department. I was assigned, in particular to the following tasks:
Development of a recursive system-level risk assessment tool through a probabilistic formula that integrates prior knowledge and test data to evaluate safety-critical systems and subsystems' reliability.
Analyzed test data and applied risk assessment / safety analysis on the high-pressure gas storage system (COPVs).
Conducted FMEA on launcher separation system.
Compiled test data on solenoid and actuated valves to quantify history of actuations during testing.
Contributed to the documentation of architecture differences between the first and second stage.
Reviewed and catalogued 21 different ground launch systems including propellant handling and storage systems, pressurization, spin-start, water deluge, hydraulics, and umbilical systems.
