ABL Space Systems is an American aerospace and launch service provider, based in El Segundo, California, that manufactures deployable launch vehicles and infrastructure for missile defense,[1] formerly for sending commercial small satellites into orbit. The company manufactures its components in the United States.[2]
ABL Space Systems manufactures the RS1, a two-stage expendable launch vehicle, and GS0, a deployable launch pad. [2]
History
ABL Space Systems was founded in 2017 by Harry O'Hanley and Dan Piemont, former SpaceX and Morgan Stanley employees. Their RS-1 rocket has two stages. It offers a maximum capacity of 1,350kg (2,980lb) to low Earth orbit (LEO).[3]
In 2019, the company signed with Spaceport America in New Mexico to locate some ABL testing operations and facilities there.[5] As of October 2022, the company makes no mention of this location on their facility list.[6]
In 2024 ABL had raised more than $500 million for the development and operation of their rocket. The sum was made up from both venture funding and from secured launch contracts with major clients.[1]
In November 2024, after a string of failures ABL announced it was exiting the commercial space orbital launch market, and announced a pivot towards military applications,[9] potentially leveraging their previous launch vehicles and engines to be used in missile defense technologies.[1] ABL has also closed down their El Segundo office and Mojave Test site, relocating entirely to Long Beach facility.[10]
See also
Rocket Lab– New Zealand and American public spaceflight company
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
