RS1

ABL Space RS1 ABL RS1

Mission Profile

RS1 was a two-stage small orbital launch vehicle developed by ABL Space Systems to provide rapid and scalable launch services for small satellite operators and constellation builders. Standing 32 meters tall with a liftoff mass of 56,000 kg and generating 500 kN of thrust, it was designed to deliver up to 1,200 kg to low Earth orbit at a competitive price point by using nine clustered E2 engines on the first stage, similar in architecture to early SpaceX designs. Its inaugural launch attempt in January 2023 from Kodiak, Alaska ended in failure shortly after liftoff, leaving the vehicle's commercial potential unrealized as ABL Space evaluated its path forward in a market crowded with new entrants.