NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Failure

DEMO-1 (Test Launch)

Launch Time
Tue Jan 10, 2023 23:27 UTC

First flight of RS1 rocket and of ABL Space Systems.

10.87 seconds after a nominal liftoff, the first stage suffered a complete loss of power, causing all nine E2 engines to simultaneously shut down. The vehicle continued to ascend for another 2.63 seconds before reaching an apogee of 761 feet (232 meters).

After reaching apogee, the vehicle fell vertically for 8.81 seconds before impacting the ground roughly 60 feet east of the launch point with approximately 95% of the vehicle's initial propellant mass remaining onboard. The crash created an explosion and overpressure wave that caused significant damage to the launch facility and scattered debris over a 0.25-mile (0.40 km) radius. Personnel were clear from the area and not at risk.

It is suspected at this time that the failure was caused by a fire reaching the avionics system.

Rocket

RS1 Block 1
Image Credit: ABL Space Systems
ABL SS
Status: Retired
Price: $12.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 485 kN
Payload to LEO: 1,350 kg
Payload to GTO: 320 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 26.8 m
Fairing Diameter: 2.0 m

Mission Details

DEMO-1

Two CubeSats 6U of OmniTeq traveled aboard the first launch of ABL Space's RS1 rocket. These two Cubesats called VariSat 1A/1B are part of a constellation of up to 36 satellites called Chameleon which is being developed by Hypergiant and the U.S. Air Force.

Payloads: 2
Total Mass: 22.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit

Location

LP-3C, Pacific Spaceport Complex, Kodiak, Alaska, USA

Stats

2023

6th orbital launch attempt

RS1

1st mission
1st mission of 2023
1st failed mission