ABL Space Systems

The inaugural launch of the RS-1 now took place on January 10, 2023 but ended with an anomaly shortly after launch. The engines shut down and the rocket fell back.

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ABL Space Systems was founded in 2017 and based in El Segundo, California. ABL�s launch vehicle RS-1 is a two-stage rocket.
RS-1 utilizes a relightable second stage engine, which can deliver payloads to many unique orbits. As a reference, most missions will require two second stage burns. With this two-burn mission design, RS1 is capable of deploying 970kg to a 500km SSO. The RS-1 is designed to access the higher altitude orbits of MEO and GTO.

The RS1 is a two-stage to orbit launch vehicle with stage separation occurring at approximately 160 seconds into flight. The second stage engine cut off (SECO) at approximately ~508 seconds.
The RS-1 uses nine E2 SL engines on the first stage and one E2 VAC engine on the second. RS1 is six feet in diameter and 88-feet long when fully integrated. Both stages use liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidizer and kerosene as propellant.
The vehicle�s primary structure is entirely metallic, employing high-strength, reliable aluminum alloys. RS-1 utilizes a common dome tank architecture to minimize structural mass. Tank barrels are grid-stiffened with an isogrid design. The front end of the vehicle includes a custom-designed payload adapter fitting and a metallic bi-conic fairing with acoustic protection.

ABL developed the E2 engine. It is a gas generator cycle engine and produces 13,000 lbf of thrust.
All E2 engine components are designed in-house, including the turbopump, main propellant valves, thrust chamber assembly, and gas generator. ABL machines and prints most E2 engine parts in-house. The thrust chamber uniquely finds liquid oxygen cooling and a copper alloy 3D printed in just a single piece.

As a standard, RS-1 uses a metallic, milled 80-inch (2.032m) diameter bi-conic fairing to shield the payload from aerodynamic buffeting and heating during ascent.

RS-1 mockup 26.82 x 1.83 m