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RS1

RS1 [ABL Space Systems]

The RS1 is a small low-cost launch vehicle by ABL Space Systems.

ABL Space Systems focuses on a "Dirt Simple" design to keep the launch costs low. It requires no fixed launch infrastructure and is planned to be able to be launched from any site with an one-week call-up time. The maiden launch is planned to occur at Vandenberg. Other launch sites offered in the USA are Camden, Cape Canaveral, Kodiak, Vandenberg and Wallops Island. In the UK, the SaxaVord Space Centre on the Island of Unst is to be used.

ABL uses propulsion technology from Ursa Major Technologies. The first stage is powered by nine E2 engines, fueled by liquid oxygen (LOX) and Kerosene (RP-1 or alternatively Jet-A). Stage 2 is powered by a single restartable E2 Vacuum engine. RS1 will have a payload of 1350 kg to low earth orbit.

Lockheed Martin is a strategic investor for ABL's RS1 project.

For operations from the Shetland launch site, the Lockheed Martin consortium is planning to use a Moog built space tug called SL-OMV (Small Launch Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle) to deploy up to six 6U-Cubesats in different orbits.

The maiden launch was planned for 2021 from Vandenberg's LC-576E, but has moved to Kodiak's LP-3C.

The launch vehicle does not require a fixed launch infrastructure, as all of these components are transportable by air lift and can be set up at any clean-pad launch site.

Launch Vehicle Stage 1 Stage 2
RS1 Stg 1 / 9 × E2 Stg 2 / E2-Vacuum
RS1A Stg 1 / 9 × E2 Aerospike -
Performance (kg) LEO LPEO SSO GTO GEO MolO IP
RS1 1350 1150 400 - - -
Nr:  TNr: Vehicle:   Serial:   Fair: LS:         Date:           Payload

 1    1   RS1                        Kd LP-3C    10.01.2023  F   VariSat 1A / VariSat 1B


Planned:

 2    2   RS1                        Kd LP-3C    xx.xx.2023      VariSat 1B(2) / DORSAT 01
 x    x   RS1                        CC LC-48    xx.xx.202x      KuiperSat (multiple launches)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.2023      Cryogenic Demonstration Mission
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (DIU)
 x    x   RS1                        SxV         xx.xx.2023      SL-OMV 1 / (multi satellite launch)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)
 x    x   RS1                        ?           xx.xx.202x      (Lockheed Martin)

 
Failures:

 1: At T+10.87 seconds, Stage 1 suffered a complete loss of power leading to a shutdown of all engines
 
 
Launch sites:

Cam = Spaceport Camden, Woodbine, Georgia, USA USA
CC  = Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA USA/ SLC-15, SLC-46
Kd  = Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (Kodiak Launch Complex), Kodiak Island, Narrow Cape, Alaska, USA USA/ LP-3C
SxV = SaxaVord Spaceport, Unst, Shetland Islands, UK UK
Va  = Vandenberg AFB, California, USA USA/ 576E
WI  = Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), Wallops Island, Virginia, USA USA

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