Company ABL Space Systems The company said the rocket, which it planned to use for its first launch in 18 months, was damaged “beyond repair” in a fire that broke out after a test fire, further delaying its return to flight. In a brief statement on social media on July 22, ABL said the RS1 rocket, which was preparing to launch from Kodiak Island, Alaska, was damaged in a fire that broke out after a static fire test on site on July 19.

“Following the pre-flight static fire test on Friday, a residual pad fire caused irreparable damage to RS1. The team is investigating the root cause of the issue and will provide updated information during the investigation,” the company said. No further details of the incident were reported.

The company has been quiet in recent months as it prepares for the launch, the second of RS1. The company’s last public comment before this announcement was a blog post in May about engine testing. In March, the company said it had begun “pre-launch operations” for the mission.

The launch would have been the first since RS1’s first launch in January 2023. During the launch, 10 seconds after liftoff, all nine first-stage engines shut down, causing the machine to crash and explode near landing. The explosion damaged equipment and facilities at the Kodiak site. Last October, the company announced that it was preparing for a second launch, but has provided little information about preparations since then.

Despite the slow path back and into flight, the company won the contract to launch RS1, which is capable of launching about one metric ton to low Earth orbit. In March 2023, the company won a $60 million Strategic Funding Increment (STRATFI) from the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Force to demonstrate tactical response capabilities. The award consists of $30 million in government funding and $30 million in private investment.

In June, Scout Space announced that it had selected ABL Space Systems to launch its space-observing telescope in a third launch, which was then scheduled for later this year. Scout said it chose ABL because it would be a faster way to launch it than flying SpaceX Transporter missions booked for next year, if offered a path.

ABL has Lockheed Martin as both an investor and lead customer, with Lockheed buying up to 58 RS1 launches in 2021. Lockheed also plans to use the RS1 to launch the “UK Pathfinder” for the British space agency under a contract signed in 2018. The launch from SaxaWord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands is expected in late 2025, British government officials said in a statement at the Farnborough International Air Show on July 22.