Startup ABL’s first rocket launch fails

After launch, the launch vehicle hit an “anomaly” and crashed. It was supposed to launch two small satellites into low earth orbit.

The first official launch of California startup ABL Space Systems’ RS1 launch vehicle ended in failure. It was reported on January 10 by SpaceNews magazine.

It was noted that RS1 was launched from the Pacific Spaceport in Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island at 14.27 local time (01.27 January 11 in Kyiv). The purpose of the mission was to put into orbit two small satellites for OmniTeq.

The launch was not broadcast on the Internet, ABL provided information about the flight on social networks.

About 20 minutes after the scheduled launch, the company announced that it had failed.

“After launch, RS1 encountered an anomaly and shut down early. The team is following PSCA and FAA contact response procedures… This is not the outcome we were expecting today, but one that we being prepared,” read a statement published on Twitter.

Later, the company clarified that at the beginning of the flight, all nine rocket E2 engines died simultaneously and it fell. After the investigation, ABL plans to resume the launch.

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The RS1 is a small launch vehicle capable of launching up to 1350 kg into low Earth orbit. It is designed to be launched from sites with minimal infrastructure.

According to the publication, in November and December last year, the company experienced several unsuccessful launch attempts that failed before it even started.

ABL has raised several hundred million dollars from venture capital firms, with Lockheed Martin acting as a strategic investor and major customer.

In April 2021, Lockheed signed a contract for 58 RS1 launches before the end of the decade, and also selected the RS1 to fly on the UK Pathfinder from SaxaVord in Shetland in 2023.

Earlier, Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket failed to reach orbit after the first launch of a spacecraft from the UK.

SpaceX has launched 40 OneWeb satellites into orbit

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