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.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Lockheed Martin selected ABL Space Systems to perform a launch from the United Kingdom in 2022.
ABL Space Systems’ RS1 rocket is part of a flexible, integrated geostationary orbit (GSO) launch system designed for rapid and cost-effective deployment with high launch performance.
Lockheed Martin contracted ABL Space Systems of El Segundo, California to supply a rocket and associated launch services for its UK Pathfinder Launch.
ABL Space Systems received a strategic investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures in 2019.
Lockheed Martin selected ABL Space Systems for the UK Pathfinder launch to use ABL’s integrated GS0 launch system and RS1 rocket for rapid site stand-up with limited on-site infrastructure.
ABL Space Systems secured $44,500,000 in U.S. Air Force contracts for launch demonstrations and $49,000,000 in private financing.
ABL Space Systems is designed to use mobile infrastructure and to operate from austere, unimproved sites.
ABL Space Systems expects to ship the first flight version of the RS1 first stage from its El Segundo, California headquarters to Vandenberg Air Force Base by the end of the year for a launch attempt in the first quarter of 2021.
On 2020-08-03, ABL Space Systems received two U.S. Air Force contracts worth $44,500,000.
The Air Force Research Laboratory signed an agreement with ABL that allows the company to test hardware at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
On 2020-01-09 the Air Force Research Laboratory said it had signed a CRADA last July with ABL Space Systems covering development and testing of rocket propulsion systems.
ABL Space Systems requested that the CRADA not be announced until test activities were underway at Edwards Air Force Base test site 1-56 in California.
The Air Force Research Laboratory signed an agreement with ABL Space Systems to jointly develop and test rocket propulsion components for future use in launch vehicles.
A three-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) between AFRL and ABL Space Systems was signed on 2019-07-10.
AFRL did not disclose the 2019-07-10 CRADA with ABL Space Systems until 2020-01-09 at ABL Space Systems’ request.
ABL Space Systems established a presence at Edwards Air Force Base test site 1-56 of the AFRL rocket propulsion division.
Over the next three years, AFRL will evaluate test data provided by ABL Space Systems as part of an effort to explore new ways to launch payloads quickly and on short notice.
ABL Space Systems is based in El Segundo, California and was founded by former SpaceX engineers in 2017 to develop low-cost launch vehicles for the small satellite industry.
ABL Space Systems’ RS1 vehicle was designed to lift 1,200 kg into low Earth orbit for $12,000,000 per launch.
ABL Space Systems completed testing of its E2 rocket engine for the RS1 vehicle at Spaceport America in New Mexico prior to 2025-12-17.