Industry ABL Space Systems is an American aerospace and launch service provider that manufactures deployable launch vehicles and infrastructure for sending commercial small satellites into orbit. The company is based in El Segundo, California. ABL Space Systems manufactures the RS1, a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle, and GS0, a deployable launch pad. It is led by CEO Harry O'Hanley and CFO Dan Piemont. For more information, you can visit the ABL Space Systems Wikipedia page.
This document provides information about ABL Space Systems, a company involved in the space industry. It also includes details about the Ariane 2 rocket, its development, launch history, and its role in the market. Additionally, it mentions the Zenit-2 rocket and the Tsyklon-2 rocket, providing their histories and descriptions.
The ABL Space Systems is an American aerospace and launch service provider based in El Segundo, California. It manufactures deployable launch vehicles and infrastructure for sending commercial small satellites into orbit. The company manufactures its components in the United States. ABL Space Systems is known for its RS1 two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle and GS0 deployable launch pad. The CEO of ABL Space Systems is Harry O'Hanley, and the CFO is Dan Piemont. For more information, you can visit the ABL Space Systems Wikipedia page.
The founders of ABL Space Systems are Harry O'Hanley and Dan Piemont, both former employees of SpaceX and Morgan Stanley.
ABL Space Systems has received contracts worth US$44.5 million from the United States Air Force, as well as private funding equaling US$49 million. The company also makes mention of a one-year deal from the tech incubator AFWERX and an agreement with Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Enterprise Consortium. These contracts include a demonstration of launch technology and three demonstrations of a RS1 vehicle variant and deployable ground infrastructure in 2022.[32]
Official website: https://ablspacesystems.com/
ABL Space Systems is an American aerospace and launch service provider, based in El Segundo, California, that manufactures deployable launch vehicles and infrastructure for sending commercial small satellites into orbit. The company manufactures its components in the United States.[1]
ABL Space Systems manufactures the RS1, a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle, and GS0, a deployable launch pad. Harry O'Hanley is the chief executive officer (CEO) and Dan Piemont is the chief financial officer (CFO) of ABL Space Systems.[1]
History
[edit]
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 1,350 kg (2,980 lb) to low Earth orbit (LEO).[2]
In 2018, ABL Space Systems signed a lease with Camden County, Georgia, for future operations in Spaceport Camden.[3]
In 2019, the company signed with Spaceport America in New Mexico to locate some ABL testing operations and facilities there.[4] As of October 2022, the company makes no mention of this location on their facility list.[5]
In 2021 ABL leased facilities at the Port of Long Beach formerly occupied by Sea Launch.[6]
As of 2023, ABL is working on a larger rocket to compete for National Security Space Launch contracts.[7]
Testing
[edit]
In 2019, ABL Space conducted testing of the E2 rocket engine at the company's test facilities at Spaceport America, New Mexico, which "provided the perfect location and support staff for us to test the E2 rocket engine". The test was considered a success.[4]
In early 2020, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) joined with ABL Space Systems to test and develop rocket-propulsion components.[8] In October 2020, the second stage with E2 engine was tested at Edwards Air Force Base.[9]
On 19 January 2022, an anomaly during testing at Mojave Air and Space Port resulted in the destruction of the second stage of the RS1 rocket.[10] On 27 January, the source of the anomaly was publicly identified by ABL's CEO Harry O'Hanley as being one of the second stage's E2 Vacuum engine's turbopumps suffering a hard start, which led to a "substantial fire on the aft end of the vehicle, resulting in a complete failure about 20 seconds later".[11]
After three earlier attempts to launch their RS1 rocket in December 2022, ABL shifted the launch attempt to January 2023.[12] The maiden flight on January 10, 2023, failed.[13]
Planned launches sites
[edit]
Pacific Spaceport Complex
[edit]
The first RS1 flight was planned for 2022 from the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island[14] but the launch attempt failed with no rocket actually launched. After two additional launch attempt failures (no rockets launched), the first launch occurred on January 10, 2023.[13] The maiden flight also failed and did not reach orbit.
Cape Canaveral
[edit]
On 1 November 2021, Amazon announced that the first two prototype satellites of the Kuiper constellation, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, would be launched using RS1 in the fourth quarter of 2022 from Launch Complex 48 at the Kennedy Space Center.[15] Amazon subsequently shifted these satellites to Vulcan Centaur.[16] Which were then subsequently launched on and Atlas V on October 6, 2023.[17]
SaxaVord Spaceport
[edit]
On 7 February 2021, Lockheed Martin and the United Kingdom announced a contract with ABL to launch the UK Pathfinder mission (6 CubeSats) in 2022, from the Shetland Space Centre on the island of Unst, Scotland.[18][19] As of September 2023, the UK Pathfinder launch is scheduled to take place in late 2024.[20]
Launches
[edit]
Flight No. | Name | Date and time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
1 | DEMO-1 | 10 January 2023[21] | VariSat 1A & 1B[23] | OmniTeq[24] | Failure | |||
First flight of the RS1 launch vehicle. The vehicle suffered an anomaly shortly after liftoff and was destroyed. Failure was attributed to an overly restrictive launch mount and flame diverter causing plume recirculation and overloading of headshield causing fire. Fire subsequently caused damage to key harnesses causing loss of power and simultaneous loss of thrust in all engines due to de-energization of valves.[25] | ||||||||
2 | DEMO-2 | NET June 2024[26] | Unknown | Unknown | Planned | |||
Second flight of the RS1 launch vehicle. | ||||||||
3 | Owlet-01 | NET 2024 | Owlet-01[28] | Scout Space | Planned | |||
Third flight of the RS1. launching the Owlet , A demonstration for Scout Space’s Owl telescope. | ||||||||
– | 2024[14] | NASA Cryogenic Demonstration Mission | Planned | |||||
Contract for a technology demonstration of cryogenic propellant transfer in orbit. | ||||||||
– | UK Pathfinder | 2024[29] | six 6U cubesats[30] | Planned | ||||
First orbital launch of the RS1 in the UK. |
RS1 rocket
[edit]
Both stages are powered by ABL's E2 rocket engine, with nine in the first stage, and one in the second stage. They are powered by RP-1 kerosene as propellant and liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer. [2]
The containerized launch system and rocket can be deployed to and launched from a suitably flat site, the main requirements being access for trucks capable of carrying up to 16 m (52 ft)-long ISO containers (for the RS-1 first stage), and a flat concrete pad 46 m (151 ft) x 15 m (49 ft).
As of April 2020 ABL Space Systems was planning the first orbital launch of its RS1 rocket in 2022. The firm received contracts worth US$44.5 million from the United States Air Force, as well as private funding equaling US$49 million. According to Dan Piemont, the US$44.5 million Air Force contracts[31] include a one-year deal from the tech incubator AFWERX to demonstrate launch technology and an agreement with Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Enterprise Consortium to conduct three demonstrations of a RS1 vehicle variant and deployable ground infrastructure in 2022.[32]
The RS1 is capable of carrying a payload of 1,350 kg (2,980 lb) to low Earth orbit.[32] It is 27 m (89 ft) tall. Launches are planned to be sold for US$12 million per flight.[9][33]
The maiden flight on January 10, 2023, failed after a fire in the aft cavity damaged key harnessing, causing the engines to shut down 11 seconds into flight.[13] RS1 crashed down near the launch pad, damaging infrastructure at the Pacific Spaceport Complex.[34]
ABL has sold over 70 launches so far.[35]
Previous design
[edit]
In 2019, RS-1 was planned to have three E1 engines, each producing 190,000 N (42,000 lbf) of thrust to power the rocket's first stage. A single E2 engine, with 58,000 N (13,000 lbf) of thrust, was planned for the rocket's second stage. Both engines would use liquid oxygen and RP-1 propellants. The first development build of the vehicle has been completed.[36]
See also
[edit]
- Rocket Lab – New Zealand and American public spaceflight company
- Rocket Lab Electron – Two-stage small launch vehicle, 200-300 kg to LEO
- Relativity Space – Private American launch vehicle manufacturer, of Terran-1 and future Terran-R
- Firefly Aerospace – American private aerospace company
- Firefly Alpha – Two-stage operational orbital rocket, about 1,070 kg to LEO
[edit]
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- RS-1 rocket details
- launch system details Archived 18 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine
Part of
on
.jpg&w=2048&q=90)
Active companies
- Arianespace
- Astra
- Axiom Space
- Bigelow Aerospace
- Blue Origin
- Equatorial Space Systems
- Firefly Aerospace
- Galactic Energy
- i-Space
- Northrop Grumman
- Redwire
- Relativity Space
- Rocket Lab
- Scaled Composites
- SpaceX
- The Spaceship Company
- United Launch Alliance
- Virgin Galactic
Active vehicles
- Antares
- Ceres-1
- Cygnus
- Dragon 2
- Electron
- Falcon 9
- Falcon Heavy
- Hyperbola-1
- New Shepard
- Pegasus
- SpaceShipTwo
- Vega
Contracts and programs
- Ansari X Prize
- Commercial Crew Development
- Commercial Resupply Services
- Google Lunar X Prize
- SpaceX Mars transportation infrastructure
- SpaceX reusable launch system development
Related
Ariane 2 was a European expendable space launch vehicle, operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) between 1986 and 1989 as part of Ariane family of rockets. The principal manufacturer for the Ariane 2 was Aérospatiale, while the lead agency for its development was the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French government's space agency.[4]
Development of the Ariane 2 was authorised in July 1979, months prior to the Ariane 1's first flight. Drawing heavily upon both the design and infrastructure of the Ariane 1, the new launcher was concurrently developed alongside the Ariane 3, with which it shared much of its design. It represented an advancement of the Ariane 1 rather than a replacement, but was capable of lifting even heavier payloads into Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Developed largely within a two-year window, the Ariane 2 performed its maiden flight on 31 May 1986, actually flying after its Ariane 3 sibling. During its brief service life, the final launch of the Ariane 2 having been conducted on 2 April 1989, the Ariane family had become increasingly commercially competitive, becoming the market leading heavy launch vehicle in the world by the late 1980s.
Development[edit]
In 1973, eleven nations decided to pursue joint the collaboration in the field of space exploration and formed a new pan-national organisation to undertake this mission, the European Space Agency.[5] Six years later, in December 1979, the arrival of a capable European expendable launch system was marked when the first Ariane 1 launcher was successfully launched from the Guiana Space Centre at Kourou, French Guiana.[6] The Ariane 1 soon became considered to be a capable and competitive launcher in comparison to rival platforms offered by the Soviet Union and the United States.[7] However, even prior to the launcher entering service, there was a strong desire to quickly produce improved derivatives that would be able to handle even greater payloads than Ariane 1 could. These desires would result in the creation of both the Ariane 2 and Ariane 3.[8]
While the initiative was first proposed in 1978, prior to the Ariane 1's first flight, approval to commence the first phase of development was not received until July 1979.[9] The bulk of development work on the new launcher occurred between 1980 and 1982. The Ariane 2 was designed to satisfy the future demand for the delivery of two tonne payloads into a Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).[9] According to aerospace historian Brian Harvey, in spite of the numbering sequence adopted, the Ariane 3 was the direct successor to the Ariane 1, rather than the Ariane 2, as could be logically assumed.[9] The principal agency behind the development of the Ariane 2 was the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), while the lead company for its production was the French aerospace manufacturer Aérospatiale.[10]
In order to keep costs down, CNES directed that only tested technologies could be implemented in the launcher's improvements; in fact, no budget was provided for new test series to be performed. Furthermore, it was restricted to using the existing launch pad and handling facilities established for the Ariane 1, and that there was to be no allowance for retooling of the Ariane production line.[9] However, one new piece of infrastructure that was permitted was the establishment of tracking equipment in the Ivory Coast; the existing infrastructure based in Brazil used by the Ariane 1 was less suitable due to the increased performance of the Ariane 2, which flew a different ascent profile than its predecessor.[11] Performance boosts were achieved via several different ways, such as the elongated third stage fuel tanks to carry 30 per cent more fuel, elevated combustion pressure in multiple stages, a new intertank structure that supported the addition of solid-fuel boosters, and the adoption of a new fuel mixture.[12]
The finalised Ariane 2 is largely identical to its sibling, the Ariane 3, the only major difference being the lack of additional solid rocket boosters, which gave the Ariane 3 a higher payload capacity at a greater unit cost.[4] The payload capacity of the Ariane 2 was 2,175 kilograms (4,795 lb) to a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), exceeding that of the preceding Ariane 1.
Launch history[edit]
Main article: List of Ariane launches (1979–89)
The Ariane 2 first flew on 31 May 1986, during which it carried the Intelsat VA F-14 satellite. However, the third stage had a partial ignition followed by another ignition above nominal pressure which led to the engine's failure. Because the upper stage of the Ariane 2 was shared with the other Ariane rockets, all flights were suspended until 16 September 1987. As a result of an investigation into the ignition irregularities, it was decided that installing more powerful igniters would sufficiently rectify the issue.[13] Despite this incident, the reliability of the Ariane family meant that insurance costs for the launcher decreased until they were less than that of rival American launchers.[14] Throughout the 1980s, the platform became increasingly competitive on the global stage.[14]
Following its reintroduction, five further launches of the Ariane 2 were conducted, all of which were successful. The last Ariane 2 launch occurred on 2 April 1989, successfully placing Tele-X into orbit.[2] According to Harvey, the Ariane family had become the dominant series of launchers on the world market as early as 1986.[7] Even prior to the maiden flight of the Ariane 2, the family had been able to secure the majority of the global launcher market.[14] Despite its relative success, the Ariane 2 was quickly replaced by the even more capable Ariane 4, which had resulted in the launcher only conducting a comparatively small number of launches.[15]
[edit]
Citations[edit]
Bibliography[edit]
External links[edit]
This article is about the rocket. For the satellite, see Zenit (satellite) § Zenit 2.
For the football team, see FC Zenit-2 Saint Petersburg.
The Zenit-2 was a Ukrainian, previously Soviet, expendable carrier rocket. First flown in 1985, it has been launched 37 times, with 6 failures. It is a member of the Zenit family of rockets and was designed by the Yuzhmash.
History[edit]
With 13–15 ton payload in LEO, it was intended as up-middle-class launcher greater than 7-ton-payload middle Soyuz and smaller than 20-ton-payload heavy Proton. Zenit-2 would be certified for crewed launches and placed in specially built launch pad at Baykonur spaceport, carrying the new crewed partially reusable Zarya spacecraft that developed in end of the 1980s but was cancelled. Also in the 1980s Vladimir Chelomey's firm proposed the never realised 15-ton Uragan spaceplane, which would have been launched by Zenit-2.
A modified version, the Zenit-2S, is used as the first two stages of the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket.[3] Launches of Zenit-2 rockets are conducted from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 45/1. A second pad, 45/2, was also constructed, but was only used for two launches before being destroyed in an explosion.[4] A third pad, Site 35 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome was never completed, and work was abandoned after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.[5]
The Zenit-2 had its last flight in 2004; it has been superseded by the Zenit-2M, which incorporates enhancements made during the development of the Zenit-3SL. The Zenit-2 has a fairly low flight rate, as the Russian government usually avoids flying national-security payloads on Ukrainian rockets. Zenit-2M itself flew only twice: in 2007 and 2011.
During the late 1990s, the Zenit-2 was marketed for commercial launches. Only one such launch was conducted, with a group of Globalstar satellites, which ended in failure after a computer error resulted in the premature cutoff of the second stage.
The second stage, called the SL-16 by western governments, along with the second stages of the Vostok and Kosmos launch vehicles, makes up about 20% of the total mass of launch debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).[6] An analysis that determined the 50 “statistically most concerning” debris objects in low Earth orbit determined that the top 20 were all SL-16 upper stages.[7]
Launch history[edit]
Main article: List of Zenit launches
[edit]
The Tsyklon-2 (Ukrainian: Циклон-2, lit. 'Cyclone-2'), also known as Tsiklon-2 and Tsyklon-M (known as SL-11 by the United States DoD), GRAU index 11K69, was a Soviet, later Ukrainian, orbital carrier rocket used from the 1960s to the late 2000s. The rocket had 106 launches, one suborbital and 105 orbital, with only one failure and 92 consecutive successful launches, from 27 December 1973 with the launch of Kosmos 626 to 25 June 2006 with the final flight of the Tsyklon-2, which makes this launcher most reliable within rocket launched more than 100 times.
History[edit]
A derivative of the R-36 ICBM, and a member of the Tsyklon family, the Tsyklon-2 made its maiden flight on 6 August 1969, and conducted 106 flights, the last one occurring on 24 June 2006. It was the most reliable Soviet/Russian carrier rocket ever used, and launched more than 100 times having failed only once, and the second most reliable carrier rocket overall, behind the Atlas II that was launched only 63 times.[2] Along with other R-36 family member Tsyklon-3, the Tsyklon-2 was retired in favor of new-generation and all-Russian carrier rockets, such as the Angara and Soyuz-2.
Description[edit]
Like the Tsyklon-3, the Tsyklon-2 was derived from the R-36 Scarp ICBM. However, it did not have a third stage, like the Tsyklon-3 did, also it was slightly shorter and had a lower weight mass when fueled.[3]