Redwire and ispace-U.S. Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Commercial Lunar Missions
At the 40th Space Symposium, Redwire Corporation, a prominent provider of cutting-edge space infrastructure, and ispace technologies-U.S., inc. (ispace-U.S.), a trailblazing American company specializing in cis-lunar transportation and lunar infrastructure services, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). This strategic agreement will enable both companies to jointly pursue commercial lunar exploration and scientific missions, particularly under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and for other government and private-sector clients.
The newly established collaboration reflects the growing momentum behind commercial lunar development, as public and private entities seek to build a sustainable presence on the Moon and in cislunar space. By combining Redwire’s extensive capabilities in digital engineering, advanced payloads, and lunar mission support with ispace-U.S.’s proven landing platforms and mission heritage, the two companies aim to become a leading force in the emerging lunar economy.
Enabling NASA’s CLPS Initiative and Beyond
The CLPS program, which is administered by NASA, represents a pivotal effort to foster commercial participation in lunar exploration. Through this initiative, the agency seeks to deliver a wide range of scientific instruments, payloads, and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface, paving the way for future crewed missions under the Artemis program. The contract is structured as a multi-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) agreement with a cumulative maximum value of $2.6 billion through 2028.
Redwire is already one of 14 companies selected by NASA as prime contractors eligible to bid on CLPS task orders. The partnership with ispace-U.S. will significantly strengthen Redwire’s ability to deliver on future missions. ispace-U.S., with its next-generation APEX lunar lander, brings critical flight heritage and technical maturity to the table. The APEX platform builds upon experience gained from the Hakuto-R lunar exploration program, including the Series 1 lander from Mission 1 and the RESILIENCE lander from Mission 2.
Designed as a versatile and robust solution for lunar payload delivery, the APEX lander offers expanded mass-to-surface capabilities, enabling it to transport a variety of instruments and payloads not only to the lunar surface but also to lunar orbit. This flexibility makes it an ideal candidate for supporting NASA’s evolving science and technology objectives as well as commercial ventures that require a reliable means of accessing the Moon.
Leaders Comment on the Strategic Vision
Mike Gold, President of Civil and International Space at Redwire, highlighted the transformative potential of the collaboration:
Redwire is proud to partner with ispace-U.S. to pursue upcoming commercial lunar exploration and science missions and deliver critical lunar infrastructure. The combination of Redwire’s advanced digital engineering, integration and testing, and lunar subsystems and payloads with ispace’s proven lunar landing platform and mission operations creates a world-class team to support the future of humanity’s operations on the lunar surface and beyond.”
Echoing this sentiment, Elizabeth Kryst, CEO of ispace-U.S., emphasized the importance of the partnership for advancing lunar access and reliability:
ispace-U.S. is thrilled to announce the partnership with Redwire to push the boundaries of lunar exploration. With significant heritage from the previous ispace lunar missions, as well as its growing footprint in the United States, ispace-U.S. is uniquely positioned to instill confidence in pursuing future commercial lunar exploration and science missions to help build a cis-lunar economy.”
The agreement marks a significant milestone for both companies, as they seek to leverage their respective strengths to support a broader vision of sustainable and scalable operations beyond Earth orbit.
Redwire: Building the Backbone of Space Infrastructure
Redwire Corporation, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, is at the forefront of space innovation. The company provides critical components and systems that enable a wide array of space missions, including those in low Earth orbit, cislunar space, and deep space. With approximately 750 employees across 17 facilities in the U.S. and Europe, Redwire delivers solutions in avionics, sensors, power systems, structures, mechanisms, radio frequency (RF) systems, and microgravity payloads.
In addition to its technical capabilities, Redwire has distinguished itself through its ability to rapidly innovate and adapt. The company’s digital engineering and simulation tools have been instrumental in enabling next-generation spacecraft design and integration. Redwire’s contributions are already being used in programs across NASA, the Department of Defense, and major commercial spaceflight initiatives.
This MOU with ispace-U.S. reinforces Redwire’s strategic intent to be a leading provider of infrastructure in the new space economy, particularly as lunar and cislunar activities accelerate.
ispace-U.S.: Delivering on the Promise of Lunar Transport
ispace-U.S. is the American subsidiary of ispace, inc., a global space company originally founded in Japan. With its U.S. operations headquartered in Denver, Colorado, ispace-U.S. plays a central role in the development, integration, and deployment of next-generation lunar landers and satellite platforms.
At the heart of its current efforts is the APEX lunar lander, which is being designed, engineered, and manufactured entirely within the United States. The APEX lander is poised to become a key asset for missions requiring precision payload delivery to the Moon. It serves not only as a technology demonstrator but also as a commercially available platform for a broad range of customers, including government agencies, academic institutions, and private firms seeking to test or deploy technologies on the lunar surface.
In addition to its lander program, ispace-U.S. is also working on lunar relay satellite systems and autonomous exploration robotics. These systems are envisioned as critical components of a broader lunar infrastructure network, supporting surface navigation, communications, and long-duration mission support.
Looking Toward a Cis-Lunar Future
As humanity enters a new era of space exploration, the Moon is increasingly seen as a gateway to deeper space. Establishing a reliable presence on the lunar surface requires more than just landers and rockets—it demands an integrated infrastructure of transportation, communications, power, and habitat systems. The partnership between Redwire and ispace-U.S. is well-positioned to contribute significantly to this infrastructure, supporting NASA’s long-term goals and creating new opportunities for commercial ventures.
The announcement at the 40th Space Symposium comes at a time of renewed interest in the Moon. With multiple CLPS missions already underway and additional task orders expected in the coming years, the collaboration between Redwire and ispace-U.S. arrives at a moment of strategic importance. By combining technical expertise, flight-proven platforms, and a shared vision for commercial space development, the two companies are poised to play a leading role in shaping the future of lunar exploration.
About Redwire
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) is a global space infrastructure company focused on enabling civil, commercial, and national security space missions. Its core competencies span avionics, sensors, mechanisms, power solutions, RF systems, structures, mission operations, and microgravity payloads. Redwire’s legacy of flight heritage, combined with its nimble and innovative approach, allows it to serve as a key partner in the evolving space ecosystem. More information is available at redwirespace.com.
About ispace-U.S.
ispace-U.S. is a Denver-based lunar exploration company focused on cis-lunar transportation and infrastructure. The company designs, develops, and tests lunar landers, relay satellites, and robotic systems aimed at supporting science, exploration, and commercial payload delivery. Its APEX lander program is at the forefront of U.S.-based lunar development, contributing to the broader vision of a sustainable lunar economy. Follow ispace-U.S. on LinkedIn and X (@ispace_us_inc) for updates and insights.
