The second launch of the ABL Space System RS1 rocket failed before it began – the carrier was accidentally burned during preparation

The second attempt to launch the promising RS1 light rocket of the American startup ABL Space System was canceled due to the unintentional destruction of the carrier. On the eve of the launch, during static fire tests of rocket engines, a fire broke out at the site, causing irreparable damage to the rocket. The company will provide details of the incident after investigating the incident.

Image source: ABL Space Systems

For ABL Space System, this was the same failure as the first rocket launch attempt in January 2023. The 27 m tall, two-stage RS1 rocket is being designed to commercially launch payloads into low Earth orbit. With a launch cost of $12 million, the rocket must lift 1,350 kg of payload into low orbit. For comparison, the Rocket Lab company charges about $7.5 million for launching a 300 kg load into LEO. Another effective solution for RS1 should be quick preparation for launch. The missile is housed in two “standard containers” and can be shipped from the factory and ready for launch in “a matter of days,” which is of particular interest to the military.

The first launch of the RS1 rocket from a site on Kodiak Island (Alaska) ended in the failure of all nine first-stage engines. The rocket crashed back onto the pad and started a fire. The company later reported that the failure was due to an imperfect launcher and a faulty flame arrester, which led to a fire on board the rocket. Why the fire happened during preparations for the second rocket launch attempt remains to be seen.

«After a pre-flight static fire test on Friday, a residual fire from the launch pad caused irreparable damage to the RS1. The team is investigating the cause and will provide updates as the investigation progresses,” ABL announced on Monday (July 22) in a post from social media platform X (formerly Twitter).