Redwire Successfully Delivers Second Pair of iROSA Solar Arrays to Augment International Space Station Power Supply

By: Redwire Corporation via Business Wire

June 30, 2022 at 07:00 AM EDT

Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced today that it has successfully delivered the second pair of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSA) to Boeing, NASA’s prime contractor for space station operations. The on-time delivery follows acceptance testing consisting of multiple ambient functional deployments, vibration, and cold and hot temperature deployments. The solar arrays are currently undergoing flight package integration and are slated to launch on an upcoming commercial resupply flight to the International Space Station (ISS).

Redwire is under contract with Boeing to provide iROSA solar arrays for the ISS. Redwire is responsible for the design, analysis, manufacture, test and delivery of six new solar arrays that will augment the ISS’s power supply. The first two iROSA solar arrays were installed on the ISS in June 2021 and are operating as expected with nominal output.

“Redwire is proud to partner with Boeing to provide critical power generation technology supporting the International Space Station, which remains the crown jewel of global human spaceflight,” said Tom Campbell, Redwire’s Executive Vice President of Deployable Solutions. “These next two iROSA wings will provide a crucial power boost to support the vital work that is happening on station, while further demonstrating this innovative technology that will enable numerous public and private sector activities in low-Earth Orbit, on and around the Moon and beyond.”

Using 30.7% efficient XTJ Prime solar cells from Boeing’s Spectrolab, each iROSA array is one of the most powerful ever manufactured and will provide more than 28 kilowatts of power. Combined, the six new arrays are designed to produce more than 120 kilowatts over 10 years and will substantially improve the overall power-generating capability of the ISS by 20 to 30 percent.

Redwire‘s Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) technology is compact, modular and scalable, making it ideal for use on the ISS and other spaceflight platforms. iROSA uses large, flexible solar arrays with composite booms that are rolled up for storage, launch and delivery. When installed, each iROSA unit unrolls without the need for motors or other equipment, giving iROSA an advantage over rigid solar arrays and other traditional technologies. The technology behind iROSA was first demonstrated on the ISS in June 2017.

Redwire is also producing various modular versions of ROSA for many government and commercial spaceflight applications, including the Power and Propulsion Element for NASA’s Gateway program. ROSA technology is currently enabling NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test Mission, which launched in November 2021.

About Redwire

Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) is a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, with valuable IP for solar power generation and in-space 3D printing and manufacturing. With decades of flight heritage combined with the agile and innovative culture of a commercial space platform, Redwire is uniquely positioned to assist its customers in solving the complex challenges of future space missions. For more information, please visit www.redwirespace.com.