Long Wall, formerly known as ABL Space Systems, is an American aerospace company that pivoted from developing low-cost launch vehicles for small satellites to focusing on missile defense technology. They manufacture deployable launch vehicles and infrastructure, leveraging their RS1 rocket and mobile ground system for military applications such as hypersonic flight testing and missile defense systems. The company aims to offer cost-effective solutions for missile testing and defense in collaboration with partners like the U.S. Department of Defense.
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ABL Space Systems plans to build the RS1 rocket and launch system in California before shipping them by sea to Scotland for the UK Pathfinder mission.
ABL Space Systems had planned RS1’s first launch from Kodiak Island in Alaska in early 2022 but now aims to debut the rocket in 2022-06-05.
Lockheed Martin selected ABL Space Systems to perform the UK Pathfinder launch from SaxaVord Spaceport.
ABL Space Systems shipped the tested RS1 second stage to its launch site in Kodiak, Alaska.
ABL Space Systems completed acceptance testing of the second stage of its RS1 vehicle at its Mojave, California test site and performed a static-fire test of the stage.
SaxaVord has been chosen to host the UK Space Agency’s UK Pathfinder launch, which will be delivered by Lockheed Martin and ABL Systems in 2022.
SaxaVord Spaceport has been chosen by Lockheed Martin and ABL Space Systems for the RS1 rocket’s first UK launch scheduled for later 2022.
Lockheed Martin has invested in ABL Space Systems and has purchased launches from ABL Space Systems.
In 2020 the AFRL rocket lab signed an agreement with ABL Space Systems to jointly develop and test rocket propulsion components for future use in launch vehicles.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and ABL Space Systems are collaborating to demonstrate rapid launch system operations from nontraditional sites.
ABL and AFRL partnered with the 2nd Space Launch Squadron and 412th Test Wing for the first demonstration activity.
Two Kuiper prototype satellites are scheduled to launch in 2022 on ABL Space Systems’ RS1 small launch vehicle, which had not yet conducted a flight.
ABL Space Systems planned to conduct the first launch of its RS1 rocket from Alaska in 2022 and was also considering launches from Cape Canaveral in 2023.
ABL Space Systems is implementing manufacturing and operational improvements to the E2 engine to reduce the chance that fuel could leak into the turbopump and cause a hard start.
ABL Space Systems and Relativity Space raised large private funding rounds in 2021.
ABL Space Systems lost the second stage of its RS1 launch vehicle in a test anomaly during testing on 2022-01-19.
ABL Space Systems raised $200,000,000 in October as an extension of a $170,000,000 Series B round it raised seven months earlier.
Small launch providers Relativity Space and ABL Space Systems won contracts to launch military payloads and targeted first flights in 2022.
Amazon signed a contract with ABL Space Systems in November to launch two prototype satellites for Project Kuiper.
Amazon plans to launch its first two Project Kuiper prototype satellites in late 2022 on an ABL Space RS1 small rocket.