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ABL Space Systems

Five 'ABL Space Systems' stories November 2021 - November 2023
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ABL Space Systems is a space launch company based in El Segundo, which is developing a SmallSat launch vehicle called RS1. The company is still young and has yet to successfully fly its rocket to space but has made it far enough in development to begin flights.

ABL’s RS1 rocket is powered by its E2 engine. Nine of these engines will propel the first stage while only one will be installed on the second stage. RS1 will be capable of lifting up to 1,350 kg of payload to low Earth orbit for the planned price of $12 million a flight.

ABL’s RS1 rocket Image stands at its launch site in Alaska. Image: ABL Space Systems

ABL Space Systems attempted its first RS1 rocket launch in January 2023 after several attempts in December 2022. The flight failed shortly after liftoff due to a fire in the rear of the rocket cause by a flawed designed exhaust section of the pad. RS1’s next flight could come in late 2023 or early 2024.

While the company hasn’t talked or shared about plans to build a bigger rocket, a US Air Force representative let it slip during a presentation that they were. ABL wouldn’t be the first SmallSat launcher to move on to a bigger rocket, both Rocket Lab and Relativity are developing rockets that can compete with SpaceX.

ABL Space Systems was founded in 2017 by Harry O’Hanley and Dan Piemont whom serve as the company’s CEO and CFO respectively.