
By Mike Gold,Ā RedwireĀ CorporationĀ Executive Vice President of Civil Space and External Affairs
Today, while attending theĀ International Aeronautical Congress (IAC) in Dubai, āÆit was my privilege to be a part of the announcement thatāÆRedwireāÆis joining with several leading space companies to develop the worldās next low Earth orbit (LEO) space station. Named āÆāOrbital ReefāāÆin reference to how we will build an entirely new ecosystem in LEO, the team will be comprised of Blue Origin, Sierra Space,āÆRedwire,āÆBoeing, Arizona State University, and Genesis Engineering.
The International Space Station (ISS) remains the pinnacle of global human spaceflight, and while we will continue to utilize the station as much as possible, a new platform must be developed with alacrity to avoid a āspace station gap.” Through the Orbital Reef team, we will leverage the creativity, efficiencies, and capabilities of the private sector to deploy a new station that will carry on the proud and singular legacy of the ISS.

The IAC was the perfect platform to announce this new initiative since the Orbital Reef will provide the entire world with unprecedented access to the benefits of space development. In partnership with NASA and other international space agencies, Orbital Reef will represent a truly global capability and Redwire will be at the very heart of utilizing this unique platform.⯠Specifically, Redwireās⯠trailblazing microgravity research, development, and manufacturing activities will result in new technologies that will transform fields as diverse as communications and biotechnology. We will use this new station not only to advance space exploration and discovery, but to develop innovations that will heal the sick, feed the hungry, and improve life for all of us here on Earth.
Moreover, we plan to leverage capabilities from across āÆRedwire⯠to build the Orbital Reef. For example, the new stationĀ may beĀ powered by our roll-out solar arraysĀ which are already being used on the ISS. Orbital ReefĀ mayĀ also take advantage of our digital engineering expertise. Before any hardware is flown, Orbital ReefĀ couldĀ exist via a ādigital twinā created byāÆRedwireĀ technology. Our cameras, star trackers, sun sensors, launch adapters, robotics, engineering support,Ā and numerous other capabilities may all be part ofāÆRedwireāsāÆenterprise-wide effort to support this unique venture.āÆ

The Orbital Reef space station is planned to begin operations in the latter half of this decade, but our work begins now. Discussions are ongoing relative to Redwireās⯠contributions to Orbital Reef and early work that we can support relative to initial demonstrations of Orbital Reef systems.āÆ
The private sector has already demonstrated that it can launch cargo, and more recently, crew to the ISS.⯠Developing,Ā deployingĀ and operating a LEO space station represents the next evolution for the commercial space paradigm, and I am so proud that thisĀ new eraĀ in space exploration and development is being led byĀ Redwire.āÆ
Learn more about Orbital ReefĀ and stayĀ up-to-dateĀ on all the latest newsĀ here.
