Redwire Wins About $40 Million to Demonstrate Solar Power for NASA Moon Base

Redwire has been selected for an approximately $40 million award to develop a solar-power generation system for NASA's Moon Base efforts, the company announced Tuesday.

The project will adapt Redwire's Roll-Out Solar Array technology for an autonomous demonstration near the lunar South Pole. The technology has already been used on the International Space Station.

The demonstration will test vertically deployed solar arrays, mast-mounted equipment and the ability to survive the lunar night. It is intended to reduce technical risks for larger systems that could eventually supply rovers, habitats and activities using resources found on the Moon.

The system is part of NASA's Mini-Communications and Solar Tower, or miniCAST, initiative. Redwire will work with NASA's Moon Base Infrastructure Office.

The announcement describes a development and demonstration award, not an operating lunar power station. Redwire did not announce a deployment date in the release.