4 minute read•Updated 9:37 AM EDT, Wed April 9, 2025
Space infrastructure leader Redwire and lunar exploration company ispace U.S. have announced a strategic collaboration at the 40th annual Space Symposium, signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly pursue future lunar missions, with an eye toward both government and commercial opportunities.
The agreement, centered around the growing demand for access to the lunar surface, will initially focus on missions supported by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, a public-private partnership initiative designed to facilitate regular, affordable deliveries to the Moon. But both companies say the vision goes far beyond.
“This partnership is not just about CLPS,” said Mike Gold, President of Civil and International Space at Redwire. “It’s about building a new economy.”
A Shared Vision for the Moon
Under the new collaboration, ispace U.S.—the American subsidiary of Tokyo-based ispace—will integrate Redwire’s cutting-edge space technologies, including cameras, deployable systems, and other critical hardware, into its future lunar landers. Redwire’s extensive assembly, integration, and test (AIT) capabilities, co-located with ispace in Colorado, will also be key to accelerating mission readiness.
“We share a vision for a cislunar economy and being able to put infrastructure on the moon,” said Ron Garan, Chairman of ispace U.S. and former NASA astronaut. “This partnership is a big step toward making that happen.”
Ispace U.S. is currently developing the APEX 1.0 lunar lander for Draper Laboratory, which is slated to journey to the far side of the Moon in 2026 as part of a CLPS mission. The far side landing presents unique technical challenges, requiring robust communications systems and innovative payload delivery strategies.
Redwire’s heritage in lunar systems dates back to its 2020 acquisition of Deep Space Systems, one of the original nine companies selected for CLPS in 2018. That legacy, combined with Redwire’s modern manufacturing capabilities and spaceflight-proven technology, positions the partnership to lead in the next wave of lunar activity.
Beyond Landers: Building a Lunar Infrastructure Ecosystem
The collaboration extends beyond landers. Garan revealed that the upcoming APEX mission will carry two small satellites intended to act as data relays—serving not just Draper’s lander but potentially a host of other missions and applications. Discussions are underway to equip those satellites with Redwire sensors, supporting situational awareness in cislunar space.
“This is about laying the groundwork for a networked presence in lunar orbit and on the surface,” Garan said. “We’re not just delivering payloads; we’re establishing infrastructure.”
This infrastructure could prove vital for future activities including in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), long-term scientific research, and potential crewed missions. Garan noted the increasing interest in lunar resources such as helium-3 and rare earth elements—materials with significant value for both energy and technology industries on Earth.
A Shifting Market Landscape
Historically, NASA has served as the primary anchor customer for lunar lander missions, but both Redwire and ispace see early signs that commercial interest is starting to catch up.
“We are seeing demand signals that this might be changing and that we might be able to have truly commercial missions,” Garan said.
Gold agreed, emphasizing that while government contracts remain crucial in the near and mid-term, new players are beginning to enter the market.
“We are seeing new customers that we weren’t seeing a few years ago,” Gold said. “From companies interested in lunar resources to those exploring data relay and infrastructure opportunities, the customer base is diversifying.”
Toward a Sustainable Cislunar Economy
Both companies framed the partnership as a pivotal move in the broader push to build a sustainable and scalable cislunar economy—one where private companies are not just contractors for government agencies, but independent actors delivering value through recurring, commercially viable lunar services.
By combining ispace’s agile lander technology and mission experience with Redwire’s robust infrastructure and testing capabilities, the two aim to enable more frequent, reliable, and capable missions to the Moon and beyond.
“We’re not just aiming for one mission,” said Gold. “We’re building the backbone for a whole new economy in space.”
As interest in lunar exploration heats up across the public and private sectors, the Redwire–ispace partnership stands out as a clear signal that the Moon is no longer just a destination—it's a developing market.
