Global Leader in Space Manufacturing Begins Building Next-Generation Research Lockers to Grow the Suborbital-to-Orbital Research Market
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., January 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) ("Virgin Galactic" or the "Company") today announced a partnership with Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) to manufacture the research payload lockers that will travel aboard Virgin Galactic’s new Delta-Class spaceships. This new platform will significantly upgrade the microgravity research capabilities available with Virgin Galactic.
Redwire is a global space infrastructure and innovation company with decades of experience in developing biotech and industrial-manufacturing technologies to operate in microgravity. The company has developed 20 research facilities for crewed spacecraft, with 10 currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), supporting world-leading research and manufacturing missions.
Sirisha Bandla, Virgin Galactic’s Vice President of Research Operations, said: "Our new state-of-the-art research platform, designed for compatibility with longer duration space mission locker standards, means we can offer a suborbital space lab suited for testing technologies and research in preparation for orbital, lunar, or Martian missions. Redwire is a pioneer in the commercialization of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) research, and we’re thrilled to partner with Redwire to further enhance Virgin Galactic’s proven, safe, and reliable microgravity research platform."
The new platform will also enhance and simplify the research experience through the customizable Redwire "plug-and-play" lockers, delivering real-time data throughout the entire spaceflight.
These lockers are optimized for both autonomous and human-tended research, with adaptable front panels allowing for easier access before, during, and after the spaceflight. They will also allow researchers to transition their suborbital experiments to payloads aboard the ISS at a lower cost and at lower risk.
"We’re leveraging everything we have learned in our 35 years of outfitting crewed spacecraft to develop these lockers," said Redwire President of In Space Industries John Vellinger. "Redwire is excited to partner with Virgin Galactic, leveraging its unique platform for suborbital-to-orbital research and development. Virgin Galactic’s Delta spaceships bring to market a new capability that expands the opportunities for commercial space innovation."
Virgin Galactic’s vehicles offer a suborbital space lab for researchers, commercial industry and governments to experiment, qualify technology and train astronauts in spaceflight and microgravity. Virgin Galactic’s centralized flight operations at Spaceport America offer researchers access to dedicated training programs and facilities, science and research preparation labs and, given the runway takeoff and landing, immediate access to their research for loading and unloading.
Virgin Galactic spaceships have the flexibility to hold a blend of payload racks and researcher astronauts to support both autonomous and human-tended research. Each spaceship will be capable of holding five payload racks, for up to 20 lockers total. Currently in production, the first Delta-Class spaceships are expected to enter commercial service in 2026.
Virgin Galactic has flown dozens of payloads over seven research missions. Examples of research conducted onboard include:
Biological experiments using plants to study how gene expression changes as terrestrial organisms transition into the novel space environment.
Autonomous experiments to advance biological imaging systems for use in potential planetary lander applications and space exploration, in addition to nanotechnology for small satellites.
Low energy, impact experiments to study the behavior of fine particles in dusty environments to inform successful exploration missions of asteroids, the Moon, and Mars.
Medical device research to inform astrosurgery capabilities in the event complex procedures need to be conducted in a weightless environment and during long-term space missions.
Experiments studying the combustion characteristics of renewable liquid biofuels, contributing to research on efficient technologies for ecosustainable energy and propulsion systems, such as aircraft engines.
Physical science experiments examining how confined fluids behave in low gravity to help inform technologies such as spacecraft life-support systems, syringe designs for administering medication in space, and spacecraft propulsion systems.
Custom technology developed to study the physiological and emotional responses associated with the "Overview Effect" as well as changing brain pressure and vision during spaceflight.
You can read more about Virgin Galactic’s suborbital research program here.
About Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human-first spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. Scale and profitability are driven by next-generation vehicles capable of bringing humans to space at an unprecedented frequency with an industry-leading cost structure. You can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com/.
About Redwire
Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is a global space infrastructure and innovation company enabling civil, commercial, and national security programs. Redwire’s proven and reliable capabilities include avionics, sensors, power solutions, critical structures, mechanisms, radio frequency systems, platforms, missions, and microgravity payloads. Redwire combines decades of flight heritage and proven experience with an agile and innovative culture. Redwire’s approximately 700 employees, working from 17 facilities located throughout the United States and Europe, are committed to building a bold future in space for humanity, pushing the envelope of discovery and science while creating a better world on Earth. For more information, please visit redwirespace.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our partnership with Redwire, including plans to manufacture research payload systems for our Delta Class spaceships, planned upgrades to the microgravity research capabilities available onboard Virgin Galactic flights, the design and capabilities of the lockers and Delta class spaceships, the potential for researchers to transition their sub orbital experiments to payloads aboard the ISS at a lower cost and at lower risk, plans to conduct autonomous research onboard powered test flights, and development of our Delta Class spaceships and proposed timeline for testing and commercial service using such spaceships are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "potential," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "strategy," "future," "could," "would," "project," "plan," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our ability to successfully develop and test our next generation vehicles and their research payload systems, and the time and costs associated with doing so, and the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at www.virgingalactic.com, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.
