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 has locations and facilities strategically located, including: Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, and the United States.
Redwire’s team in Kruibeke (Belgium) delivers entire satellites and major satellite equipment, including platforms, on-board computers, power control and distribution units, and remote terminal units. The Phantom platform is built in Belgium and designed to enable a wide variety of intelligence, Earth science and communications missions in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). With two cleanroom areas and multiple working labs, this site is a major contributor to the infrastructure of the International Space Station – building sophisticated science instruments and life support systems to enable long-term crewed missions. Redwire is also developing IBDM, the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism for the European Space Agency.
For more information, please visit redwirespace.com.
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Hogenakkerhoekstraat 9
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Phantom, Redwire’s European VLEO platform
Phantom is built in Belgium and designed to enable a wide variety of intelligence, Earth science and communications missions in VLEO.
Phantom is intended to fill many different roles in a reliable and cost-effective way. Leveraging over four decades of heritage in satellite design, development and in-orbit operations, Phantom has an aerodynamic design that reduces propellant requirements, and could allow the satellite to stay in VLEO for up to five years. The design also uses standardized off-the-shelf hardware to reduce manufacturing costs and, with a total anticipated spacecraft mass of less than 300 kg, is compatible with existing small satellite launchers.
Redwire will advance Phantom’s design and development through the European Space Agency’s VLEO mission: Skimsat, on which Redwire is working together with Thales Alenia Space in the United Kingdom. The main goals of Skimsat are boosting satellite sustainability and mission performance while reducing spacecraft mass and mission cost by enabling sustained operational capability at lower altitudes. In addition, the Skimsat platform design team seeks to improve key elements such as overall system performance, subsystem modularity, supply chain sustainability and safety of operations in VLEO.
“As a worldwide leader in developing and providing VLEO capabilities, Redwire is thrilled to continue its trailblazing work in VLEO with the European-built Phantom platform,” said Pete Cannito, Redwire Chairman and CEO. “We believe that VLEO will be a critical domain for the future of defense and intelligence operations, and we are proud to be leading the way in bringing this untapped orbit from concept to reality.”
The strategic significance of VLEO is growing for Earth science, intelligence, communications, and defense and security applications. While low Earth (LEO) and geosynchronous (GEO) orbits are becoming increasingly congested and contested, spacecraft in VLEO operate in a relatively unimpaired environment. Bridging the gap between air and space, VLEO spacecraft fly above airborne anti-access areas while operating significantly closer to the Area of Responsibility on the ground than existing satellites. Additionally, unlike LEO and GEO, debris in VLEO deorbits in hours or days rather than in decades or more.
Phantom Product Information
| Size (Stowed) | 1.8 m x 1.3 m x 1.3 m |
| Payload Size | 40 cm x 40 cm x 60 cm (launcher-dependent) |
| Payload Mass | 50 kg |
| Total Spacecraft Weight | Below 300 kg |
| Power Available | >25 W OAP (EOL) |
| Propulsion | Electric |
| Orbital Altitude | Below 300 km |
| Mission Lifetime | Up to 5 years |
| Mission Applications | Earth Science, ISR, SDA, RF signal monitoring, Communications |
Proven European LEO Platform for SmallSats
Hammerhead is the next evolution of the PROBA platform, leveraging the next iteration of Redwire’s proprietary onboard computer. Engineered in collaboration with the European Space Agency, Hammerhead offers high performance, high reliability, and an extensive flight heritage with over 50 years in orbit without failure.
Hammerhead combines technological innovation, high reliability and autonomous operations to support your mission.
- On-board autonomy simplifies sophisticated mission operations, minimizes the operational cost and improves mission availability.
Meets the highest quality standards while minimizing operational costs - Enables single-payload missions or full, multi-payload constellations
- Serves a variety of missions including: remote sensing, communications, and in-orbit demonstrations
Hammerhead Product Information
| Size (Stowed/Unstowed) | 800 mm by 800 mm by 1200 mm |
| Payload Size | 640 mm by 770 mm by 490-1872 mm (Launcher dependent) |
| Payload Mass | Up to 120 kg |
| Total Spacecraft Weight | 175 kg (Wet); 163 kg (Dry) (Excl. payload) |
| Power Available | Up to 517 W (Standard) |
| Propulsion | 12.5 kg Hydrazine (HPGP available as option) |
| Orbital Altitude | >450 km |
| Mission Lifetime | Minimum of 5 years (heritage missions have demonstrated continuous operations for >23 years) |
| Mission Applications | EO, Comms, Science & IODs |
