View source for Company:ABL Space Systems

{{Short description|American space launch technology company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = ABL Space Systems
| logo = ABL Space Systems logo.png
| type = [[Finance:Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = Aerospace
| founded = August 2017
| founder = {{Plainlist|
* Dan Piemont
* Harry O'Hanley
}}
| hq_location_city = El Segundo, California
| hq_location_country = United States
| key_people = {{Plainlist|
* Dan Piemont ([[Social:President (corporate title)|CFO]])
* Harry O'Hanley ([[Company:CEO|CEO]])
* Matthew Becker (Chief Engineer)
* Josh Hathaway ([[Guidance, navigation, and control|GNC Director]])
}}
| num_employees = 100
| num_employees_year = 2021
| website = {{URL|https://ablspacesystems.com}}
}}

'''ABL Space Systems''' is an American aerospace and launch service provider, based in El Segundo, California, that manufactures deployable [[Engineering:Launch vehicle|launch vehicles]] and infrastructure for sending commercial small satellites into orbit. The company manufactures its components in the United States.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://ablspacesystems.com/company/|title=ABL Space Systems Company|publisher=ABL Space Systems|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510023837/https://ablspacesystems.com/company/|url-status=live}}</ref>

ABL Space Systems manufactures the RS1, a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle, and GS0, a deployable launch pad. Harry O'Hanley is the [[Social:Chief executive officer|chief executive officer]] (CEO) and Dan Piemont is the [[Social:Chief financial officer|chief financial officer]] (CFO) of ABL Space Systems.<ref name=":0"/>

== History ==
ABL Space Systems was founded in 2017 by Harry O'Hanley and Dan Piemont, former [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]] and Morgan Stanley employees. Their RS-1 rocket has two stages. It offers a maximum capacity of {{cvt|1350|kg}} to [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|low Earth orbit]] (LEO).<ref name="ABL rocket"/>

In 2018, ABL Space Systems signed a lease with Camden County, Georgia, for future operations in Spaceport Camden.<ref name="BW20210215">{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180917005721/en/ABL-Space-Systems-Signs-Lease-with-JDA-to-Begin-Operations-in-Camden-County|title=ABL Space Systems Signs Lease with JDA to Begin Operations in Camden County|publisher=Business Wire|date=17 September 2018|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214104418/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180917005721/en/ABL-Space-Systems-Signs-Lease-with-JDA-to-Begin-Operations-in-Camden-County|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, the company signed with [[Engineering:Spaceport America|Spaceport America]] in New Mexico to locate some ABL testing operations and facilities there.<ref name="Spaceport">{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Carol A. |title=Spaceport America announces test operations of ABL Space Systems |url=https://ladailypost.com/spaceport-america-announces-test-operations-of-abl-space-systems/ |access-date=16 November 2021 |agency=Los Alamos Daily Post |date=29 December 2019 |archive-date=16 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116124712/https://ladailypost.com/spaceport-america-announces-test-operations-of-abl-space-systems/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of October 2022, the company makes no mention of this location on their facility list.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ablspacesystems.com/company/ |title=Company—ABL Space Systems : Site Map |publisher=ABL |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=17 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917120303/https://ablspacesystems.com/company/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 2023, ABL is working on a larger rocket to compete for [[Engineering:National Security Space Launch|National Security Space Launch]] contracts.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Eric Berger |title=Col. Douglas Pentecost of the Air Force has referred to companies including Rocket Lab, Relativity Space, Blue Origin, and ABL Space as "Lane 1" entrants for national security launch. He revealed that ABL is also working on larger rocket, which the company hasn't talked about. |url=https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1629190538908893189?s=20 |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref> 

== Testing ==
In 2019, ABL Space conducted testing of the E2 rocket engine at the company's test facilities at Spaceport America, New Mexico, which "provided the perfect location and support staff for us to test the E2 rocket engine". The test was considered a success.<ref name="Spaceport" />

In early 2020, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) joined with ABL Space Systems to test and develop rocket-propulsion components.<ref name="ARS20200107">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/01/rocket-report-key-dragon-test-on-tap-big-year-for-rocket-debuts/|title=Rocket Report|publisher=Ars Technica|date=7 January 2020|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509115329/https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/01/rocket-report-key-dragon-test-on-tap-big-year-for-rocket-debuts/|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2020, the second stage with E2 engine was tested at [[Organization:Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards Air Force Base]].<ref name=sn20201022>{{cite news |url=https://spacenews.com/abl-space-systems-tests-launch-vehicle-stage/ |title=ABL Space Systems tests launch vehicle stage |work=SpaceNews |date=22 October 2020 |access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref>

On 19 January 2022, an anomaly during testing at Mojave Air and Space Port resulted in the destruction of the second stage of the RS1 rocket.<ref name=sn20220120>{{cite news |date=20 January 2022 |title=ABL Space Systems rocket stage destroyed in test accident |url=https://spacenews.com/abl-space-systems-rocket-stage-destroyed-in-test-accident/ |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=SpaceNews }}</ref> On 27 January, the source of the anomaly was publicly identified by ABL's CEO Harry O'Hanley as being one of the second stage's E2 Vacuum engine's [[Engineering:Turbopump|turbopump]]s suffering a [[Engineering:Hard start|hard start]], which led to a "substantial fire on the aft end of the vehicle, resulting in a complete failure about 20 seconds later".<ref name=sn20220127>{{cite news |date=27 January 2022 |title=ABL Space Systems test accident to delay first launch by three months |url=https://spacenews.com/abl-space-systems-test-accident-to-delay-first-launch-by-three-months/ |access-date=28 January 2022 |work=SpaceNews }}</ref>

After three earlier attempts to launch their RS1 rocket in December 2022, ABL shifted the launch attempt to January 2023.<ref name=spacecom>{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/abl-space-systems-launch-delay-january-9 |title=Rocket startup ABL Space Systems pushes debut launch to Jan. 9 |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=December 16, 2022 |website=space.com |access-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-date=10 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110083739/https://www.space.com/abl-space-systems-launch-delay-january-9 |url-status=live }}</ref> The maiden flight on January 10, 2023, failed.<ref name="Failed2023-01-10"/>

== Planned launches sites ==

=== St. Marys, Georgia – launch site ===
In 2018, ABL contracted with the city of St. Marys, Georgia, in Camden County to use the former St. Marys Airport (FAA [[Location identifier#FAA identifier|LID]]: 4J6) as a launch site.<ref name="PA20180919">{{cite web|url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2018/09/19/abl-space-systems-signs-lease-operations-camden-county/|title=ABL Space Systems|publisher=Parabolic Arc|date=19 September 2018|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=15 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215025411/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2018/09/19/abl-space-systems-signs-lease-operations-camden-county/|url-status=live}}</ref> The former airport is about {{cvt|7|km}} from the East Coast at Cumberland Island, Georgia, and would be part of the Spaceport Camden range.

=== Pacific Spaceport Complex ===
The first RS1 flight was planned for 2022 from the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island,<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/abl-space-systems-to-launch-nasa-technology-demonstration-mission/ |title=ABL Space Systems to launch NASA technology demonstration mission |work=SpaceNews |date=16 September 2021 |access-date=16 September 2021}}</ref> but the launch attempt failed with no rocket actually launched. After two additional launch attempt failures (no rockets launched), the first launch occurred on January 10, 2023.<ref name="Failed2023-01-10">{{Cite web |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=2023-01-11 |title=Start-up fails first launch as rocket explodes off Alaska's coast |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/10/world/abl-space-systems-satellite-launch-alaska-scn/index.html |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111003415/https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/10/world/abl-space-systems-satellite-launch-alaska-scn/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The maiden flight also failed and did not reach orbit.

=== Cape Canaveral ===
On 1 November 2021, [[Company:Amazon|Amazon]] announced that the first two prototype satellites of the [[Company:Kuiper Systems|Kuiper constellation]], KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, would be launched using RS1 in the fourth quarter of 2022 from Launch Complex 48 at the Kennedy Space Center.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 November 2021 |title=Amazon's satellite launch schedule puts it nearly 4 years behind Starlink |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2018/09/19/abl-space-systems-signs-lease-operations-camden-county/ |access-date=2 November 2021 |archive-date=31 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131045453/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2018/09/19/abl-space-systems-signs-lease-operations-camden-county/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Amazon subsequently shifted these satellites to Vulcan Centaur.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-12 |title=Amazon's Project Kuiper satellites will fly on the new Vulcan Centaur rocket in early 2023 |url=https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/amazons-project-kuiper-satellites-will-fly-on-the-new-vulcan-centaur-rocket-in-early-2023 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=US About Amazon |language=en |archive-date=14 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014171517/https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/amazons-project-kuiper-satellites-will-fly-on-the-new-vulcan-centaur-rocket-in-early-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> Which were then subsequently launched on and [[Engineering:Atlas V|Atlas V]] on October 6th, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mike |first=Wall |url=https://www.space.com/atlas-v-rocket-launches-first-two-project-kuiper-satellites-amazon |title=Atlas V rocket launches Amazon's 1st 2 internet satellites to orbit (video) |work=Space.com |date=6 October 2023 |access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref>

=== SaxaVord Spaceport ===
On 7 February 2021, [[Company:Lockheed Martin|Lockheed Martin]] and the United Kingdom announced a contract with ABL to launch the UK Pathfinder mission (6 [[Engineering:CubeSat|CubeSat]]s) in 2022, from the Shetland Space Centre on the island of Unst, Scotland.<ref name=sn20210207>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-selects-abl-space-systems-for-uk-launch/|title=Lockheed Martin selects ABL Space Systems for UK launch |publisher=SpaceNews|date=7 February 2021|access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="C4ISR20210208">{{cite web|url=https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/europe/2021/02/08/british-militarys-space-campaign-picks-up-steam-with-skynet-upgrade/|title=British military's space campaign picks up steam with "Skynet" upgrade|publisher=C4ISRNET|date=8 February 2021|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429015144/https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/europe/2021/02/08/british-militarys-space-campaign-picks-up-steam-with-skynet-upgrade/|url-status=live}}</ref> As of September 2023, the UK Pathfinder launch is scheduled to take place in late 2023.<ref>https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6974</ref>

== Launches ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders collapsible"
! scope="col" |Flight No.
!Name
! scope="col" |Date and
time ([[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col" |Launch site
! scope="col" |Payload
! scope="col" |Payload mass
! scope="col" |Orbit
! scope="col" |Customer
! scope="col" |Launch outcome
|-
! rowspan="2" |1
| DEMO-1
| 10 January 2023<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-11 |title=ABL Space Systems' rocket fails on maiden launch |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/abl-space-systems-rocket-fails-maiden-launch-2023-01-11/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111003416/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/abl-space-systems-rocket-fails-maiden-launch-2023-01-11/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Kodiak, LP-3C<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=OET Special Temporary Authority Report |url=https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=116078 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=FCC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808220503/https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=116078 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| VariSat 1A & 1B<ref>{{Cite web |title=RS1 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/rs1.htm |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en |archive-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007195738/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/rs1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
| [[Astronomy:Polar orbit|Polar]] (200 x 350&nbsp;km x 87°)<ref name=":3" />
| OmniTeq<ref>{{Cite web |title=VariSat 1A, 1B, 1C |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/varisat-1.htm |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en |archive-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007195736/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/varisat-1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{Failure}}
|-
| colspan="8" |First flight of the RS1 launch vehicle. The vehicle suffered an anomaly shortly after liftoff and was destroyed. Failure was attributed to an overly restrictive launch mount and flame diverter causing plume recirculation and overloading of headshield causing fire. Fire subsequently caused damage to key harnesses causing loss of power and simultaneous loss of thrust in all engines due to de-energization of valves.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAA Closes RS1 Mishap Investigation |url=https://ablspacesystems.com/news/faa-closes-rs1-mishap-investigation/ |website=ablspacesystems.com |publisher=ABL |access-date=7 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" |2
| DEMO-2
| Q1 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://akaerospace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-AAC-Annual-Report-final-pages.pdf |title=Alaska Aerospace - 2023 Annual Report |access-date=25 January 2024 |work=Alaska Aerospace}}</ref> 
| Kodiak, LP-3C<ref name=":4">{{cite web |url=https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=118552&RequestTimeout=1000 |title=OET Special Temporary Authority Report |work=FCC |date=21 September 2022 |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922000404/https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=118552&RequestTimeout=1000 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Unknown
|
| [[Astronomy:Polar orbit|Polar]] (200 x 275&nbsp;km x 87°)<ref name=":4" />
| Unknown
| {{Planned}}
|-
| colspan="8" |Second flight of the RS1 launch vehicle.
|-
! rowspan="2" | –
|
| 2024<ref name=":1" />
|
| NASA Cryogenic Demonstration Mission
|
| [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
| [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]
| {{Planned}}
|-
| colspan="8" |Contract for a technology demonstration of cryogenic propellant transfer in orbit.
|}

== RS1 rocket ==
Both stages are powered by ABL's E2 rocket engine, with nine in the first stage, and one in the second stage. They are powered by [[Chemistry:RP-1|RP-1]] [[Chemistry:Kerosene|kerosene]] as [[Physics:Propellant|propellant]] and [[Physics:Liquid oxygen|liquid oxygen]] (LOX) as the oxidizer. <ref name="ABL rocket">{{cite web|url=https://ablspacesystems.com/rocket/|title=Even Rockets Can Be Simple|publisher=ABL Space Systems|date=2020|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=7 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207184127/https://ablspacesystems.com/rocket/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The containerized launch system and rocket can be deployed to and launched from a suitably flat site, the main requirements being access for trucks capable of carrying up to {{cvt|16|m}}-long [[Engineering:Intermodal container#53-foot containers|ISO containers]] (for the RS-1 first stage), and a flat concrete pad {{cvt|46|m}} x {{cvt|15|m}}.

{{as of|April 2020}} ABL Space Systems was planning the first orbital launch of its RS1 rocket in 2022. The firm received contracts worth US$44.5 million from the {{wipe|United States Air Force}}, as well as private funding equaling US$49 million. According to Dan Piemont, the US$44.5 million Air Force contracts<ref name="AFRL">{{cite web|url=http://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2147250/afrl-awards-agreements-under-aerospike-rocket-integration-and-sub-orbital-exper|title=AFRL awards agreements under Aerospike Rocket Integration and Sub-orbital Experiment (ARISE) Program|publisher=Wright-Patterson AFB|date=13 April 2020|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=1 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101201805/https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2147250/afrl-awards-agreements-under-aerospike-rocket-integration-and-sub-orbital-exper/|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> include a one-year deal from the tech incubator AFWERX to demonstrate launch technology and an agreement with Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Enterprise Consortium to conduct three demonstrations of a RS1 vehicle variant and deployable ground infrastructure in 2022.<ref name="afspec"/>

The RS1 is capable of carrying a payload of {{cvt|1350|kg}} to [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|low Earth orbit]].<ref name="afspec">{{cite web|date=3 August 2020|first=Sandra |last=Erwin |title=Small launch startup ABL secures over US$90 million in new funding and Air Force contracts|url=https://spacenews.com/small-launch-startup-abl-secures-over-90-million-in-new-funding-and-air-force-contracts/|access-date=15 February 2021|publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref> It is {{cvt|27|m}} tall. Launches are planned to be sold for US$12 million per flight.<ref name=sn20201022/><ref>{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Foust|url=https://spacenews.com/abl-space-systems-increases-performance-and-cuts-price-of-its-small-launch-vehicle/|title=ABL Space Systems increases performance and cuts price of its small launch vehicle|date=February 1, 2019|access-date=November 11, 2019|publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref>

The [[Engineering:Maiden flight|maiden flight]] on January 10, 2023, failed after a fire in the aft cavity damaged key harnessing, causing the engines to shut down 11 seconds into flight.<ref name="Failed2023-01-10"/> RS1 crashed down near the launch pad, damaging infrastructure at the Pacific Spaceport Complex.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAA Closes RS1 Mishap Investigation |url=https://ablspacesystems.com/news/faa-closes-rs1-mishap-investigation/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=ABL Space Systems |language=en}}</ref>

ABL has sold over 70 launches so far.<ref name="70 launches">{{cite web|date=Oct 31, 2023|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsclFLDwgIM&t=1510s|title=The Road to Flight 2, with Dan Piemont (ABL Space)|language=en|format=video}}</ref>

=== Previous design ===
In 2019, RS-1 was planned to have three E1 engines, each producing {{cvt|42000|lbf|order=flip}} of thrust to power the rocket's first stage. A single E2 engine, with {{cvt|13000|lbf|order=flip}} of thrust, was planned for the rocket's second stage. Both engines would use liquid oxygen and RP-1 propellants. The first development build of the vehicle has been completed.<ref>{{cite web|date=1 February 2019|first=Jeff|last=Foust|title=ABL Space Systems increases performance and cuts price of its small launch vehicle |url=https://spacenews.com/abl-space-systems-increases-performance-and-cuts-price-of-its-small-launch-vehicle/ |access-date=15 February 2021|publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref>

==See also==
*{{annotated link|Company:Rocket Lab}}
** {{annotated link|Engineering:Rocket Lab Electron}}
*{{annotated link|Company:Relativity Space}}
*{{annotated link|Company:Firefly Aerospace}}
**{{annotated link|Engineering:Firefly Alpha}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://ablspacesystems.com/rs1/ RS-1 rocket details]
* [https://ablspacesystems.com/launch launch system details] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118204024/https://ablspacesystems.com/launch/ |date=18 January 2021 }}

{{US launch systems}}
{{Expendable launch systems}}

[[Category:Private spaceflight companies]]
[[Category:Commercial launch service providers]]
[[Category:Aerospace companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Aerospace technologies]]
[[Category:Rocket engines]]
[[Category:Companies (Engineering)]]
[[Category:Companies]]

{{Sourceattribution|ABL Space Systems}}