Redwire Awarded Contract to Lead Study for the European Space Agency’s Next Dark Matter Mission
Redwire (NYSE: RDW) has secured a study contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) for the ARRAKIHS mission, focused on imaging faint galaxies and studying dark matter. Through its Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, the company will lead one of two parallel industry studies for Phase A and B of the mission.
The project will utilize an adapted version of Redwire's Hammerhead small satellite platform and avionics capabilities. If selected for implementation, Redwire will integrate the full satellite in its Belgian cleanroom facilities. The company's European facility boasts over 40 years of spaceflight experience, having successfully delivered PROBA-1, PROBA-2, and PROBA-V missions with a combined flight time of nearly 50 years without failure.
ESA expects to decide on mission adoption by mid-2026. The project is part of ESA's Fast class missions program, which aims to reduce time from concept to scientific data delivery.
Redwire (NYSE: RDW) ha ottenuto un contratto di studio dall'Agenzia Spaziale Europea (ESA) per la missione ARRAKIHS, focalizzata sull'imaging di galassie deboli e lo studio della materia oscura. Attraverso la sua filiale belga, Redwire Space NV, l'azienda guiderà uno dei due studi industriali paralleli per le Fasi A e B della missione.
Il progetto utilizzerà una versione adattata della piattaforma satellitare di piccole dimensioni Hammerhead di Redwire e delle sue capacità avioniche. Se selezionata per l'implementazione, Redwire integrerà il satellite completo nelle proprie strutture di cleanroom in Belgio. La struttura europea dell'azienda vanta oltre 40 anni di esperienza nel volo spaziale, avendo consegnato con successo le missioni PROBA-1, PROBA-2 e PROBA-V con un tempo di volo combinato di quasi 50 anni senza fallimenti.
L'ESA prevede di decidere sull'adozione della missione entro metà 2026. Il progetto fa parte del programma di missioni di classe Fast dell'ESA, che mira a ridurre il tempo dalla concezione alla consegna dei dati scientifici.
Redwire (NYSE: RDW) ha asegurado un contrato de estudio de la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) para la misión ARRAKIHS, centrada en la obtención de imágenes de galaxias tenues y el estudio de la materia oscura. A través de su filial belga, Redwire Space NV, la empresa liderará uno de los dos estudios industriales paralelos para las Fases A y B de la misión.
El proyecto utilizará una versión adaptada de la plataforma de satélite pequeño Hammerhead de Redwire y sus capacidades de aviónica. Si se selecciona para su implementación, Redwire integrará el satélite completo en sus instalaciones de cleanroom en Bélgica. La instalación europea de la empresa cuenta con más de 40 años de experiencia en vuelos espaciales, habiendo entregado con éxito las misiones PROBA-1, PROBA-2 y PROBA-V con un tiempo de vuelo combinado de casi 50 años sin fallos.
La ESA espera decidir sobre la adopción de la misión para mediados de 2026. El proyecto es parte del programa de misiones de clase Fast de la ESA, que tiene como objetivo reducir el tiempo desde el concepto hasta la entrega de datos científicos.
레드와이어 (NYSE: RDW)는 유럽우주국(ESA)으로부터 희미한 은하 이미징 및 암흑 물질 연구에 초점을 맞춘 ARRAKIHS 미션에 대한 연구 계약을 체결했습니다. 벨기에 자회사인 Redwire Space NV를 통해 이 회사는 미션의 A 및 B 단계에 대한 두 개의 병행 산업 연구 중 하나를 주도할 것입니다.
이 프로젝트는 레드와이어의 해머헤드 소형 위성 플랫폼과 항공 전자 장치의 적응된 버전을 사용할 것입니다. 실행 대상으로 선정되면 레드와이어는 벨기에 청정실 시설에서 완전한 위성을 통합할 것입니다. 이 회사의 유럽 시설은 40년 이상의 우주 비행 경험을 자랑하며, PROBA-1, PROBA-2 및 PROBA-V 미션을 성공적으로 수행하여 총 비행 시간은 거의 50년에 달하며 실패 없이 진행되었습니다.
ESA는 2026년 중반까지 미션 채택 여부를 결정할 것으로 예상하고 있습니다. 이 프로젝트는 ESA의 패스트 클래스 미션 프로그램의 일환으로, 개념에서 과학 데이터 제공까지의 시간을 단축하는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다.
Redwire (NYSE: RDW) a obtenu un contrat d'étude de l'Agence Spatiale Européenne (ESA) pour la mission ARRAKIHS, axée sur l'imagerie de galaxies faibles et l'étude de la matière noire. Par l'intermédiaire de sa filiale belge, Redwire Space NV, l'entreprise dirigera l'une des deux études industrielles parallèles pour les phases A et B de la mission.
Le projet utilisera une version adaptée de la plateforme de petit satellite Hammerhead de Redwire et de ses capacités avioniques. Si elle est sélectionnée pour la mise en œuvre, Redwire intégrera le satellite complet dans ses installations de cleanroom en Belgique. L'établissement européen de l'entreprise bénéficie de plus de 40 ans d'expérience dans le vol spatial, ayant réussi à livrer les missions PROBA-1, PROBA-2 et PROBA-V avec un temps de vol combiné de près de 50 ans sans échec.
L'ESA prévoit de décider de l'adoption de la mission d'ici la mi-2026. Le projet fait partie du programme de missions de classe Fast de l'ESA, qui vise à réduire le temps entre le concept et la livraison des données scientifiques.
Redwire (NYSE: RDW) hat einen Studienvertrag von der Europäischen Weltraumorganisation (ESA) für die ARRAKIHS-Mission erhalten, die sich auf die Abbildung schwacher Galaxien und das Studium der Dunklen Materie konzentriert. Über ihre belgische Tochtergesellschaft Redwire Space NV wird das Unternehmen eine der beiden parallelen Industrie-Studien für Phase A und B der Mission leiten.
Das Projekt wird eine angepasste Version der Hammerhead-Satellitenplattform von Redwire und deren Avionikfähigkeiten nutzen. Sollte es für die Umsetzung ausgewählt werden, wird Redwire den vollständigen Satelliten in seinen belgischen Reinraumeinrichtungen integrieren. Die europäische Einrichtung des Unternehmens kann auf über 40 Jahre Erfahrung in der Raumfahrt zurückblicken und hat erfolgreich die Missionen PROBA-1, PROBA-2 und PROBA-V mit einer kombinierten Flugzeit von fast 50 Jahren ohne Ausfälle durchgeführt.
Die ESA plant, bis Mitte 2026 über die Annahme der Mission zu entscheiden. Das Projekt ist Teil des Fast-Class-Missionsprogramms der ESA, das darauf abzielt, die Zeit von der Konzeptualisierung bis zur Lieferung wissenschaftlicher Daten zu verkürzen.
- Secured new ESA contract for spacecraft design study
- Potential for full satellite integration contract if selected for implementation
- Demonstrated track record with 50 years of combined successful flight time on PROBA missions
- Final contract award decision not until mid-2026
- Competing with another company for the implementation phase
Insights
The ESA contract award for the ARRAKIHS mission study marks a significant strategic advancement for Redwire in the competitive European space sector. The company's selection as one of only two contractors for this preliminary design phase demonstrates their strong positioning in the $447 billion global space economy.
Several key factors make this contract particularly noteworthy for investors:
- The contract leverages Redwire's flight-proven Hammerhead platform, showcasing the company's ability to adapt existing technology for new applications - a important efficiency factor in space infrastructure development
- Redwire's Belgian subsidiary's 40-year heritage and successful track record with ESA missions (particularly the PROBA series with 50 years of cumulative flight time without failure) provides a significant competitive advantage for securing the full implementation contract in 2026
- The company's expanding ESA project portfolio, including Skimsat, Gateway, Hera, and Proba-3, demonstrates growing market penetration and diversification of revenue streams in the European space sector
The potential selection for ARRAKIHS's implementation phases would position Redwire for substantial long-term revenue opportunities, as ESA science missions typically involve multi-year contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros. The company's state-of-the-art Belgian facilities and proven integration capabilities further strengthen their competitive position for securing the full mission contract.
This contract also strategically positions Redwire in the growing field of dark matter research infrastructure, a sector that increasingly attracts significant government funding due to its fundamental importance in understanding the universe. The company's involvement in ESA's Fast class missions program demonstrates their ability to deliver cost-effective, rapid-deployment solutions - a important capability as space agencies worldwide seek more efficient approaches to space exploration.
Redwire’s wholly owned Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, has been awarded one of two parallel industry studies to lead Phase A and B for the Analysis of Resolved Remnants for Accreted galaxies as a Key Instrument for Halo Surveys (ARRAKIHS) mission. Redwire’s solution is built around an adapted version of its flight-proven small satellite platform, Hammerhead, and its proven avionics capabilities, which launched most recently on ESA’s Hera mission. If selected for ARRAKIH’s implementation phases, Redwire will also be tasked with integrating the full satellite in its state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities in
“ARRAKIHS is an exciting opportunity to advance space exploration, and we are proud to be recognized as a key partner for this kind of mission,” said Erik Masure, President of Redwire International. “Our successful track record leading major international space missions and our expertise as system integrator and spacecraft operator as demonstrated recently with the Proba-3 successes continues to be a critical capability for ESA.”
“ARRAKIHS exemplifies the appeal of Fast class missions in the ESA science program. By combining an innovative payload with a quasi-recurring platform, we can significantly reduce the time from the initial concept to the delivery of scientific data, paving the way for exciting and groundbreaking discoveries,” commented Carlos Corral van Damme, ESA’s ARRAKIHS Project Manager. “The Fast missions address focused scientific cases and contribute to the program's diversity. They also provide a fast-training path to the young generation, both in the scientific community and industry. The parallel industrial studies will ensure that the spacecraft design and the required technologies are ready for the implementation phase when the mission is adopted by the Science Program Committee in mid-2026," he added.
Redwire’s European facility in
Disclaimer: The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency
About Redwire
Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is a global space infrastructure and innovation company enabling civil, commercial, and national security programs. Redwire’s proven and reliable capabilities include avionics, sensors, power solutions, critical structures, mechanisms, radio frequency systems, platforms, missions, and microgravity payloads. Redwire combines decades of flight heritage and proven experience with an agile and innovative culture. Redwire’s approximately 750 employees working from 17 facilities located throughout
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