F1A1 – Monday November 14^th

In our first attempt, we had a flawless day of operations up until 75% propellant fill at T-30 minutes. At that time, a vendor valve in our Stage 1 fuel pressurization system failed open. This led to a gradual, and then more rapid leak of helium into our fuel tank. We scrubbed the launch and safed the vehicle for the day.

We have worked with the vendor to characterize this problem, made replacements, and retired this issue.

Small-satellite launch company ABL Space Systems is gearing up for its first-ever liftoff.

ABL completed a key fueling test, called a wet dress rehearsal, with its RS1 rocket on the pad at the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Alaska’s Kodiak Island this week, the company said.

“At this point, each stage has individually completed all major pre-flight tests,” O’Hanley said. “Next, we’ll prepare for stage mate to perform final checkouts on the fully stacked vehicle and perform a wet dress rehearsal. Following that, launch.”

ABL Space Systems said May 16 it completed acceptance tests of the second stage of its RS1 vehicle, four months after the original upper stage was destroyed in a test anomaly.