Redwire awarded study contract for DMA 3 of NASA’s Mars program

Redwire has been awarded a study contract for Design Reference Mission 3 of NASA’s Mars Commercial Services program, which outlines a commercial imagery mission to support lower-cost, higher-frequency missions to the Red Planet. While currently in a study phase, the program will eventually expand into service contracts for products from operational assets. This commercial model has already been successfully deployed through the CLPS program and has the potential to result in dramatically lower cost of access to Mars. “Commercial access to Mars is a necessary step in humanity’s expansion into space as industry solutions dramatically lower the cost of missions, setting the stage for more frequent robotic access and eventual human presence,” said Kari Abromitis, Redwire Senior Project Engineer. “Redwire is thrilled that NASA is taking this commercial approach to exploration, as they did with the CLPS program, in order to empower US industry leadership in deep space. Redwire’s eventual imagery of the Red Planet will result in better science and mission planning, as well as awe-inspiring views of our solar system.” In the commercial services concept being developed by Redwire, Redwire will own the mission’s spacecraft and sell imagery data products to NASA and other government or commercial entities to help foster a Mars economy. Once deployed, Redwire’s spacecraft will immediately bring value to customers and help drive the expansion of Mars surface activities. Redwire’s high resolution imagery can be used to support observational science investigations, landing site selection and hazard assessment, change detection, and monitoring and planning for surface assets.