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Over the next three years, AFRL will evaluate test data provided by ABL Space Systems as part of an effort to explore new ways to launch payloads quickly and on short notice.
A three-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) between AFRL and ABL Space Systems was signed on 2019-07-10.
AFRL did not disclose the 2019-07-10 CRADA with ABL Space Systems until 2020-01-09 at ABL Space Systems’ request.
ABL Space Systems requested that the CRADA not be announced until test activities were underway at Edwards Air Force Base test site 1-56 in California.
ABL Space Systems’ RS1 vehicle was designed to lift 1,200 kg into low Earth orbit for $12,000,000 per launch.
ABL Space Systems is based in El Segundo, California and was founded by former SpaceX engineers in 2017 to develop low-cost launch vehicles for the small satellite industry.
The Air Force Research Laboratory signed an agreement with ABL Space Systems to jointly develop and test rocket propulsion components for future use in launch vehicles.
ABL Space Systems established a presence at Edwards Air Force Base test site 1-56 of the AFRL rocket propulsion division.
ABL Space Systems completed testing of its E2 rocket engine for the RS1 vehicle at Spaceport America in New Mexico prior to 2025-12-17.
ABL Space Systems is planning a first launch of the RS1 vehicle in 2020.
ABL Space Systems will use funds from Lockheed Martin Ventures’ investment to support the RS1 development and test program, including an integrated stage test later 2019.
ABL Space Systems plans the RS1 to place 1,200 kg into low Earth orbit at a per-launch price of $12,000,000.
ABL Space Systems of El Segundo, California increased the lift capacity of its planned RS1 rocket by one third to 1,200 kg.
ABL Space Systems has conceptual frameworks for operating RS1 at all major U.S. launch sites but has not selected a launch site.
ABL Space Systems planned a first launch of the RS1 in the third quarter of 2020.
ABL Space Systems moved engine production in-house after originally planning to purchase engines from Ursa Major Technologies.
ABL Space Systems is offering an upgraded version of the RS1 rocket at a price of $12,000,000 per launch, down from an earlier price of $17,000,000.
ABL Space Systems expects additional demand for RS1 from customers seeking to launch smallsats into higher orbits, including geostationary orbit, and from growing government interest in small satellites.
ABL Space Systems was founded in 2017 and has been operating quietly since its founding.
ABL Space Systems planned a test launch of the RS1 vehicle for the third quarter of 2020.