EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Nov. 6, 2023 – The Federal Aviation Administration notified ABL Space Systems it has closed the mishap investigation into the Flight 1 anomaly of the RS1 launch vehicle that occurred on Jan. 10, 2023.
The mishap occurred 10.93 seconds after liftoff, when a fire in the aft cavity damaged key harnesses and triggered a complete loss of power. All engines shut down simultaneously as engine valves de-energized and terminated thrust, causing the vehicle to impact and detonate on the launch pad at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska. The source of the fire is attributed to an overly restrictive launch mount and flame deflector that created plume recirculation, overloading RS1’s base heat shield.
ABL has identified 22 corrective actions to prevent future mishaps from repeating. Action items include redesign of the launch mount and flame deflector, hardened closeouts and harnesses, and additional risk mitigation activities. ABL must implement all corrective actions that impact public safety and receive concurrence from the FAA that all safety and other applicable regulatory requirements have been satisfied before resuming any launch activities.
ABL led the mishap investigation with oversight from the FAA.