https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/abl-joining-market-growing-contracts/
ABL Space Systems is requesting an STA to transmit telemetry data from a transmitter on the ground to receiver assets at Pacific Spaceport Complex. This will be a brief, one-time test that will verify our transmitters compatibility with launch range assets. There will be no other launch vehicle-related hardware involved in this test.
ABL Space Systems said Sept. 16 it will launch the NASA Cryogenic Demonstration Mission spacecraft on its RS1 rocket in 2023...ABL had been working toward a first launch of its RS1 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California this year. Piemont said that the company now plans to perform its first RS1 launch before the end of this year from Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska on Kodiak Island.
[Space News] ABL Space Systems to launch NASA technology demonstration missionQuoteABL Space Systems said Sept. 16 it will launch the NASA Cryogenic Demonstration Mission spacecraft on its RS1 rocket in 2023...ABL had been working toward a first launch of its RS1 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California this year. Piemont said that the company now plans to perform its first RS1 launch before the end of this year from Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska on Kodiak Island.
Quote from: gongora on 09/16/2021 03:13 pm[Space News] ABL Space Systems to launch NASA technology demonstration missionQuoteABL Space Systems said Sept. 16 it will launch the NASA Cryogenic Demonstration Mission spacecraft on its RS1 rocket in 2023...ABL had been working toward a first launch of its RS1 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California this year. Piemont said that the company now plans to perform its first RS1 launch before the end of this year from Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska on Kodiak Island.Notably, this Tipping Point demonstration mission had been contracted to fly on a Relativity Space Terran 1 rocket, but it sounds like it's shifting over to ABL's RS1. Not sure what that says about Relativity Space, or if they were only involved due to Momentus' involvement and when they got pulled, so did Relativity.
There's also in image of, of all things, the inside of the RS1 first stage (presumably oxygen) tank. There's a slightly absurd number of little (presumably pressurant?) tanks for some reason.EDIT: Also, first launch moved from Vandenburg to Kodiak.
75 launches on order, $375 million invested. Wow!https://spacenews.com/abl-space-systems-raises-200-million/
Similar conops to Astra, with much higher payload capacity than Astra/Rocket Lab/Virgin Orbit. A bit more expensive than those companies.
ABL Space will take over a processing facility at Long Beach Port previously occupied by Sea Launch. Company says "Maritime operations are key to scaling our launch capabilities globally."https://polb.com/port-info/news-and-press/port-of-long-beach-attracts-another-space-tech-tenant-10-28-2021/
PORT OF LONG BEACH ATTRACTS ANOTHER SPACE TECH TENANTOctober 28, 2021ABL SPACE SYSTEMS WILL MANUFACTURE, STORE LAUNCH VEHICLES, SATELLITESThe Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Thursday approved an agreement with ABL Space Systems to build a spacecraft processing facility at the Port of Long Beach and use waterfront area for the delivery and shipping of its cargo.Founded in 2017, El Segundo-based ABL Space Systems will take over 8.06 acres of land and 1.31 acres of submerged land at the Navy Mole on the Port’s Pier T, which was formerly part of the Long Beach Naval Station.“We welcome ABL Space Systems to the Port of Long Beach family. It’s exciting to add yet another tenant in the rapidly growing spacecraft technology industry,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal. “We look forward to what we know will be a mutually beneficial relationship with our newest tenant.”“This is an innovative company, on the cutting edge of private spacecraft technology, offering wider access to space,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “We’re very pleased to provide this land to ABL Space Systems.”Thursday’s agreement comes five months after the Port of Long Beach agreed to lease a site to SpaceX, adjacent to what will now become the ABL Space Systems site. SpaceX uses its site as a marine terminal for its West Coast rocket recovery operations.Included in the five-year lease is a 41,228 square-foot integration and payload processing facility, 14,629-square-foot warehouse space, and a 25,250-square-foot office space. This location, previously occupied by Sea Launch, will be used by ABL for a wide range of operations, including vehicle processing, payload integration, and maritime operations that support the company’s global network of launch facilities.“This site is highly strategic for our growth,” said Harry O’Hanley, CEO of ABL Space Systems. “Maritime operations are key to scaling our launch capabilities globally. We’ll also re-activate the old Sea Launch payload processing facility to handle spacecraft of almost any size.”
