en.Wedoany.com Reported - Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) has secured a contract from Luxembourg-based biotechnology company Astrobiome Space S.à r.l. to grow strawberries and test Astrobiome Space's soil enhancement products within the Redwire greenhouse system aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This marks the first commercial flight mission for the Redwire greenhouse system—the world's first commercial space greenhouse.
The Redwire greenhouse offers a scalable commercialization pathway, enabling customers to advance crop science research from ground-based laboratories to authentic space production environments. In addition to supporting NASA's long-term exploration goals, the platform will provide research opportunities for institutional and commercial users in the fields of bioscience and industrial research. The greenhouse integrates flight-proven plant growth technologies, including the Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS) devices developed in collaboration with Tupperware Brands and currently operational on the ISS.
For this mission, Astrobiome Space will utilize its biostimulants, developed from microorganisms found in extreme space environments, to cultivate the first-ever wild strawberries grown in orbit. The company states that the product is expected to enhance the strawberries' natural adaptability and nutritional density, resulting in higher levels of vitamin C, potassium, flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants, bringing their quality closer to that of wild crops on Earth. Astrobiome Space plans to first grow test crops in a terrestrial greenhouse system in June to prepare for the ISS mission.
Marc Dielissen, Executive Vice President of Redwire Europe, stated that this contract represents a significant step forward in advancing key technologies for sustainable extraterrestrial life support systems. He noted that the greenhouse platform is not only used for fundamental research but also demonstrates the practical cultivation of fresh food in space—including crops such as strawberries and fungi—which is crucial for preparing for future long-duration missions and habitats, while also providing insights for agricultural practices on Earth.
Vera Mulyani, Founder and CEO of Astrobiome Space, expressed her dream of still tasting the flavor of Earth while traveling to Mars, adding that although the first strawberry grown in space will be small, its taste will carry the story of entire forests and the changing seasons.
Redwire Europe focuses on microgravity research and life support technologies, collaborating with government, commercial, and academic institutions, including the European Space Agency. Its facility in Luxembourg is responsible for designing and developing advanced robotic arm systems to support satellite servicing, refueling, payload management, and in-space manufacturing, as well as innovating in debris capture and other on-orbit servicing tasks.
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