Redwire to provide solar arrays for Axiom space station module

WASHINGTON — Axiom Space has awarded a contract to Redwire to provide solar arrays for the first module of Axiom’s planned commercial space station.

The companies announced Sept. 25 that Redwire will provide a version of its Roll-Out Solar Array, or ROSA, to Axiom for use on Axiom Station’s Payload Power Thermal Module, known as AxPPTM.

AxPPTM is the first module Axiom plans to launch for its commercial station. Under a revised assembly schedule announced last December, AxPPTM will berth with one of two ports on the International Space Station used by Cygnus cargo spacecraft.

It would remain there until Axiom launches a second module, called Hab1. At that point, AxPPTM would unberth from the ISS and dock with Hab1, forming the initial station that can support four-person crews. Axiom would later add more modules.

Tejpaul Bhatia, chief executive of Axiom Space, said in an interview that the selection of Redwire’s ROSA fit into the company’s “derisk approach” of working with the ISS. “Their 100% success rate with ROSA is very much a selling point for us,” he said.

The ROSA technology was originally developed for the ISS, augmenting its original solar arrays. It has since been used on other spacecraft, including the lunar Gateway and Blue Origin’s Blue Ring.

“Now we’re able to literally bring this technology full circle where it will be used on a commercial space station, and that shows how the investment from NASA can pay off for the agency, for the private sector and the world,” said Mike Gold, president of civil and international space at Redwire.

The companies did not disclose the value of the contract or technical specifications of the ROSA system for AxPPTM. The contract covers only the solar array for AxPPTM, but executives from both companies suggested the partnership could expand.

Bhatia said development of AxPPTM was on track. Its primary structure is being built by Thales Alenia Space in Italy, with the final weld completed in July. It is scheduled to be delivered to Axiom’s Houston facilities early next year for outfitting. Launch to the ISS is planned for late 2027.

The partnership comes as NASA revises plans to support development of commercial stations like Axiom’s. A July policy directive signed by Acting Administrator Sean Duffy instructed NASA to change the second phase of its Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development, or CLD, program. The agency will now issue multiple Space Act Agreements rather than a single contract, helping companies develop their stations and conduct a 30-day demonstration mission.

NASA’s directive caught Axiom by surprise, Bhatia said, but won’t significantly change the company’s plans. “You’re not seeing any massive changes coming out of us,” he said, explaining that Axiom’s revised development plan already aligns with NASA’s new approach. “The recent directive aligns pretty well and offers us a lot more optionality.”

Gold argued the new CLD strategy will speed progress. “We must proceed with alacrity,” he said. “I think that the effort in the past has been lethargic.”

“Anything that accelerates that moment where private sector firms are put under contract, where NASA is making commitments to fly astronauts, as well as committing to a path, at least, for a continuous crewed presence in low Earth orbit is vital,” he said. “I have been thrilled with the decisive leadership that we have seen coming from Secretary Duffy.”

Both Bhatia and Gold emphasized competition with China and its Tiangong space station. Bhatia noted that while Axiom has signed countries such as Hungary, India and Poland for private astronaut missions to the ISS, Pakistan chose instead to partner with China.

“We will and must avoid a space station gap in LEO to ensure that America is at least equal to Chinese capabilities in this incredibly important field of endeavor,” Gold said. “The countries and companies that excel in microgravity research and development, and manufacturing, will be not only the economic leaders but also the national security giants of tomorrow.”

“The one first principle that we know to be true is that the ISS is coming down. The second one is that the Chinese station is up,” Bhatia said. “Those constraints are there.”