Key Takeaways
- Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) has been awarded a contract by Astrobiome Space to grow strawberries and test Astrobiome's proprietary soil enhancement product inside Redwire's Greenhouse system on board the International Space Station (ISS).
- The mission marks the inaugural flight for Redwire's Greenhouse system, described as the world's first commercial space greenhouse.
- Astrobiome Space's biostimulant, developed from microbes adapted to extreme space environments, is expected to enhance the fruit's natural resilience and nutrient density, including higher levels of vitamin C, potassium, flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants.
- Astrobiome Space will begin growing test crops in the Greenhouse system on Earth in June, in preparation for the ISS flight.
- Redwire's Greenhouse leverages the Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS) devices, developed in partnership with Tupperware Brands and currently operated by Redwire on the ISS.
Redwire Greenhouse to Grow First Wild Strawberries in Space
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) has announced a contract award from Astrobiome Space S.à r.l., a Luxembourg-based biotech company pioneering microbiome solutions for regenerative space agriculture, to grow strawberries and test Astrobiome Space's proprietary soil enhancement product inside Redwire's Greenhouse systems on board the International Space Station. The mission marks the first flight for Redwire's commercial space greenhouse platform, and the first time wild strawberries have been cultivated in orbit.
“This contract with Astrobiome Space marks an exciting step forward in advancing critical technology for sustainable life-support systems beyond Earth. With our Greenhouse platform, we are not only enabling fundamental research, but we are also demonstrating the practical cultivation of fresh food in space — including crops such as strawberries and fungi. These capabilities are essential as we prepare for long-duration missions and future habitats, while also generating valuable insights to improve agricultural practices here on Earth,” said Marc Dielissen, Executive Vice-President of Redwire Europe.
Astrobiome Space's Biostimulant and the Mission Plan
For the inaugural mission, Astrobiome Space's biostimulant — derived from microbes adapted to extreme space environments — will be used to support the cultivation of wild strawberries in orbit. The product is expected to enhance the fruit's natural resilience and nutrient density, including higher concentrations of vitamin C, potassium, flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants, with the goal of bringing orbital crop quality closer to that of wild-grown produce on Earth.
Astrobiome Space will begin growing test crops in the Greenhouse system on Earth in June, ahead of the ISS flight, and the company frames the mission as part of a broader effort to develop living agricultural systems capable of supporting long-duration human presence beyond Earth.
“I dream of going to Mars knowing I can still taste the Earth. The first strawberry grown in space will be tiny, but its flavor will carry the whole story of the forest and the turning seasons. With Astrobiome®, we carry the living wilderness of our planet wherever we go,” said Vera Mulyani, Founder and CEO of Astrobiome Space.
Redwire Commercial Space Greenhouse Platform
Redwire's Greenhouse is designed to provide a scalable commercial pathway for customers seeking to advance crop science from benchtop laboratory conditions to production in space. The system is intended to support both NASA's long-term exploration plans and research opportunities for institutional and commercial customers working across plant science and industrial research goals.
The Greenhouse leverages flight-qualified plant growth technology, including the Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS) devices, developed in partnership with Tupperware Brands and currently operated by Redwire on the ISS.
