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]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | August 2017 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people |
|
Number of employees | 100 (2021) |
| Website | ablspacesystems |
ABL Space Systems manufactures the RS1, a two-stage expendable launch vehicle, and GS0, a deployable launch pad. [2]
History
editABL 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).[3]
In 2018, ABL Space Systems signed a lease with Camden County, Georgia, for future operations in Spaceport Camden.[4]
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 2021 ABL leased facilities at the Port of Long Beach formerly occupied by Sea Launch.[7]
In 2023, ABL was working on a larger rocket to compete for National Security Space Launch contracts.[8]
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
edit- Rocket Lab – New Zealand and American public spaceflight company}
- Relativity Space – Private American launch vehicle manufacturer, of Terran-1 and future Terran-R
- Firefly Aerospace – American private aerospace company
References
edit- ^ a b c Erwin, Sandra (15 November 2024). "ABL Space exits commercial launch market, shifts focus to missile defense". SpaceNews. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ a b "ABL Space Systems Company". ABL Space Systems. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Even Rockets Can Be Simple". ABL Space Systems. 2020. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "ABL Space Systems Signs Lease with JDA to Begin Operations in Camden County". Business Wire. 17 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Clark, Carol A. (29 December 2019). "Spaceport America announces test operations of ABL Space Systems". Los Alamos Daily Post. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Company—ABL Space Systems : Site Map". ABL. Archived from the original on 17 September 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Port of Long Beach Attracts Another Space Tech Tenant". Port of Long Beach. 28 October 2021.
- ^ Eric Berger. "Col. Douglas Pentecost of the Air Force has referred to companies including Rocket Lab, Relativity Space, Blue Origin, and ABL Space as "Lane 1" entrants for national security launch. He revealed that ABL is also working on larger rocket, which the company hasn't talked about". Twitter. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Berger, Eric (15 November 2024). "As ABL Space departs launch, the 1-ton rocket wars have a clear winner". Ars Technica. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Fernholz, Tim (27 November 2024). "ABL Replaces CEO To Build A Missile Defense System". Payload. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
External links
edit- Official website
- RS-1 rocket details
- launch system details Archived 18 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine
