WASHINGTON — ABL Space, once an emerging contender in the commercial launch industry, is rebranding as Long Wall as it pivots away from launching small satellites to focus on defense applications, including missile defense and hypersonic flight testing.
The company, founded in 2017 in El Segundo, California, initially sought to disrupt the small satellite launch market with its RS1 rocket, a low-cost, rapidly deployable vehicle designed to be transported in standard shipping containers. However, the venture struggled to gain traction, suffering two failed orbital launch attempts in 2023 and 2024. Facing stiff competition from established players like SpaceX and Rocket Lab, as well as financial challenges, ABL ultimately decided to shift gears.
On Feb. 19, founder and CEO Dan Piemont announced in a company blog post that ABL would rebrand as Long Wall, a name inspired by the defensive structures built by ancient Athens to protect against sieges. The company’s focus is developing containerized missile defense systems and target rockets for U.S. military applications.
The Defense Department has made clear its need for more cost-effective solutions for hypersonic flight testing and missile defense, Piemont said.
Under its new strategy, the company will offer deployable missile defense and hypersonic test vehicles, repurposing its RS1 rocket as a target vehicle for military testing. These rockets would be used to simulate incoming threats in live-fire exercises or test advanced missile interceptors.
Long Wall has yet to disclose any signed contracts or customers. The pivot aligns with a broader trend of space startups shifting toward defense work amid challenges in the commercial market. The transition is also driven by expectations of lucrative opportunities driven by rising geopolitical tensions and increased Pentagon interest in hypersonic and missile defense capabilities.
