The debut launch of the RS1 rocket ended in a fall and a fire on the launch pad

After Virgin Orbit, which failed to launch the LauncherOne rocket, ABL Space Systems had an unsuccessful launch. Her

the launch vehicle, called RS1, also fell.

What is known

RS1 - is a light missile designedensure the delivery of small payloads into orbit at a relatively low cost. The launch took place on January 11 at 01:27 (EET). The rocket was launched from Kodiak Island (Alaska).

The RS1 first stage has nine E2 engines.Some time after the launch, they all stopped working at the same time. The rocket did not even have time to leave the launch pad, so it fell to the same place it took off from.

On the ABL Space Systems Twitter page, nofootage of the fall of a 27-meter rocket. The company limited itself to a “text broadcast” of the launch. It is known that the crash caused a fire that damaged the launch facility and equipment. Both satellites were also lost.

In fact, Rocket Lab is stillthe only one that can consistently launch satellites into space, if we are talking about light rocket operators. The cost of launching a 300 kg payload into low Earth orbit is $7.5 million. Launching ABL Space Systems costs $12.5 million. Competition could intensify with the advent of Firefly Aerospace and Astra.