ESA Awards Contract to Redwire for Comet Interceptor
ESA Awards Contract to Redwire for Comet Interceptor
Will Supply The Computer "Brain" For The Spacecraft
ESA has awarded a contract to Florida-based Redwire in conjunction with OHB Italia S.p.A. to provide the onboard computer for its Comet Interceptor mission – Implementation Phase (Phases C/D/E1). ESA’s Comet Interceptor will be the first spacecraft to visit a long-period, dynamically new comet or interstellar object.
“We are proud to partner with OHB Italy and ESA to enable the first-of-its-kind Comet Interceptor mission with critical technology.”
Erik Masure, Redwire Space Europe
Redwire’s wholly owned Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, will develop the onboard computer for the Comet Interceptor mission, which is the “brain” of the spacecraft and is designed to monitor and control other components, including transmitting critical data to operators on the ground. The onboard computer is part of Redwire’s third generation Advanced Data and Power Management System.
“We are proud to partner with OHB Italy and ESA to enable the first-of-its-kind Comet Interceptor mission with critical technology to deepen our understanding of the solar system,” said Erik Masure, president of Redwire Space Europe. “Redwire Space Europe’s breadth of advanced, flight-proven satellite technology is continuing to enable Europe’s most ambitious space missions.”
“OHB Italy considers Redwire as a potential and reliable partner for future missions and is confident that the collaboration with Redwire both for the Comet Interceptor mission and for future activities will be fruitful,” said a representative from OHB Italy.
Through its expanded global operations, Redwire is proud to support a variety of exciting ESA activities including the Cheops mission to study exoplanets; Proba-3, the first precision formation flying satellite demonstration; Euclid, which will create the largest, most accurate 3D map of the universe ever produced; the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism for the lunar Gateway; the Altius ozone observation mission; and the Hera mission to study the Didymos binary asteroid system targeted by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission.