Redwire Awarded Contract to Lead Study for ESA’s Next Dark Matter Mission

(Jacksonville, Florida) Space infrastructure company Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) has been awarded a study contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop the preliminary design for an upcoming astrophysics mission that will “image faint galaxies in the nearby universe and provide insight into the nature of dark matter,” according to the company.

Photo credited to NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI courtesy of Redwire Corporation.

Redwire’s wholly owned Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, has been awarded one of two parallel industry studies to lead Phase A and B for the Analysis of Resolved Remnants for Accreted galaxies as a Key Instrument for Halo Surveys (ARRAKIHS) mission, according to this morning’s press release from Redwire.

If selected for ARRAKIH’s implementation phases, Redwire will also be tasked with integrating the full satellite in cleanroom facilities in Belgium, according to the company.

“ARRAKIHS exemplifies the appeal of Fast class missions in the ESA science program,” said Carlos Corral van Damme, ESA’s ARRAKIHS Project Manager. “By combining an innovative payload with a quasi-recurring platform, we can significantly reduce the time from the initial concept to the delivery of scientific data, paving the way for exciting and groundbreaking discoveries. The Fast missions address focused scientific cases and contribute to the program’s diversity. They also provide a fast-training path to the young generation, both in the scientific community and industry. The parallel industrial studies will ensure that the spacecraft design and the required technologies are ready for the implementation phase when the mission is adopted by the Science Program Committee in mid-2026.″