ABL completes investigation of January 10th launch failure
ABL yesterday released the results of its investigation into the January 10th launch failure of its RS1 rocket.
Just over ten seconds after launch the rocket suffered “a complete loss of power,” its engines shut down, and it came crashing back to Earth about 60 feet to the east of the launch pad. The resulting explosion and fire damaged and destroyed significant equipment, including a nearby “fabric hanger.” The report then goes on to describe the cause:

Click for full image.
It appears a fire started inside the rocket, which damaged its systems and caused the power shutdown. The cause of the fire however remains undetermined.
Though the company says the stages for its second rocket are “largely complete and commissioned,” no new launch date is mentioned. These stages will likely require some overhaul before launch, and since that work is presently undetermined, there is no way to predict exactly how long it will take.
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ABL yesterday released the results of its investigation into the January 10th launch failure of its RS1 rocket.
Just over ten seconds after launch the rocket suffered “a complete loss of power,” its engines shut down, and it came crashing back to Earth about 60 feet to the east of the launch pad. The resulting explosion and fire damaged and destroyed significant equipment, including a nearby “fabric hanger.” The report then goes on to describe the cause:
Click for full image.
It appears a fire started inside the rocket, which damaged its systems and caused the power shutdown. The cause of the fire however remains undetermined.
Though the company says the stages for its second rocket are “largely complete and commissioned,” no new launch date is mentioned. These stages will likely require some overhaul before launch, and since that work is presently undetermined, there is no way to predict exactly how long it will take.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
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3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
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P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Unwanted fire, so poor insulation, fuel leak, electrical arc, etc. The possibilities are wide.
This may put a long delay on their next attempt, of course. Hope they can nail it down soon.
Noting that everyone has totally forgoten about Americas first sattilte Explorer I