Made in Space, Inc. (acquired by Redwire 2020)¶
Location: Jacksonville, FL (originally Moffett Field CA area)
Type: Industry (startup → acquired)
FO Projects: 91394 (FDM 3D printing → ISS AMF), 106680 (GAMMA-ALF — dead end), 155254 (MSTIC → ISS NG-20 Feb 2024), 106743 (VULCAN hybrid manufacturing → Redwire product), 155247 (FAME PIL-BOX pharma crystallization → active ISS commercial program)
Outcome Category: Mission Infusion (ISS AMF + ISS MSTIC) + Commercial (Redwire PIL-BOX) + Dead End (GAMMA-ALF)
Last updated: Session 88, 2026-04-07
Confidence: Confirmed
Summary¶
Made in Space is the canonical FO success story. FO parabolic and suborbital flights (2011–2018) validated 3D printing (FDM) in microgravity. This directly led to the ISS Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) — a commercial facility deployed on the ISS in 2016 that is still operating. Technology went from TRL4 to TRL9 through FO. The company accumulated >25 NASA and DoD contracts, was acquired by Redwire Space in June 2020, and continues operating as Redwire's in-space manufacturing division.
Timeline:
- 2010: Made in Space founded
- 2011: First zero-G tests on parabolic flights (pre-FO); FO project formally starts July 2011
- 2012: NASA SBIR Phase I for AMF ($125k, NNX12CE77P) — proposal explicitly mentions FO suborbital tests
- 2013: NASA SBIR Phase II AMF design ($1.2M, NNX13CM01C)
- 2014: Zero-G 3D printer launched to ISS — first 3D printer in space
- 2016: Permanent Additive Manufacturing Facility deployed to ISS
- 2018: FO project closes at TRL9
- 2020: Acquired by Redwire Space (June 24, 2020; terms undisclosed)
- Post-2020: Multiple Redwire/MIS contracts continue NASA + DoD manufacturing R&D
TechPort Record: 91394¶
- Title: Printing the Space Future Testing
- Program: Flight Opportunities (FO)
- Period: 2011-07-18 to 2018-04-17
- TRL: 4 → 9 (current: 9) — largest confirmed TRL gain in FO portfolio
- Lead Org: Made in Space, Inc. (Jacksonville FL)
- PI: Jason J Dunn
- TX: TX12.4.1 Manufacturing Processes
- Outcome records: 3 × "Advanced To" (Other partner, 2012-02-13, 2014-06-20, 2015-06-02)
- Description: FO funded FDM 3D printing on parabolic and suborbital flights. Description confirms: "In-space 3D printing technology is being used in NASA-funded missions on the International Space Station."
- SBIR chain in description: SBIR Phase I (2012), Phase II (2013), STTR Phase I (2014), SBIR Phase I (2014)
- Library items: 7 — includes summary chart (fileId 364936), project image (fileId 364935), ISS experiment page link
USASpending Awards (Recipient: Redwire Space Inc, same entity)¶
Selected key contracts (page 1 of 2+ pages):
| Award ID | Agency | Amount | Period | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NNX12CE77P | NASA | $124,821 | 2012 | SBIR Ph I: AMF — explicitly mentions FO suborbital tests |
| NNX13CM01C | NASA | $1,199,776 | 2013–2017 | SBIR Ph II: AMF design through PDR to TRL6 |
| 80NSSC18C0091 | NASA | $1,043,134 | 2018–2021 | VULCAN metal manufacturing system |
| 80NSSC18C0092 | NASA | $1,121,348 | 2018–2021 | Industrial Crystal Facility for ISS |
| SP470119C0042 | DoD/DLA | $849,165 | 2019–2021 | DoD SBIR Phase II |
| 80NSSC19C0137 | NASA | $749,594 | 2019–2021 | ISS microgravity manufacturing |
| 80NSSC19C0175 | NASA | $748,296 | 2019–2021 | In-space precision structures for interferometry |
| 80JSC018F0179 | NASA/JSC | $740,707 | 2018 | AMF turbine ceramic manufacturing |
| 80JSC018F0180 | NASA/JSC | $739,903 | 2018 | AMF turbine ceramic manufacturing |
| 80JSC018F0178 | NASA/JSC | $731,253 | 2018 | AMF industrial crystal |
| HR001118C0108 | DARPA | $501,176 | 2018–2019 | HALO system functional development |
| 80NSSC20C0040 | NASA | $374,867 | 2020–2021 | VULCAN advanced hybrid manufacturing |
| 80JSC020F0142 | NASA/JSC | $319,640 | 2020–2021 | 3D printing with regolith materials on ISS |
| FA945319P0541 | Air Force | $149,490 | 2018–2019 | AM qualification measurement system |
| IND17PC00192 | DoI | $149,709 | 2017–2018 | EAGLE system (launch element augmentation) |
| IND16PC00114 | DoI | $128,693 | 2016 | Scanning/AM end-effector for robotic servicing |
Total tracked (page 1, 25 records): ~$10.1M
More records exist (hasNext: true) — full portfolio likely $15–25M+ in government contracts
Downstream Impact Chain¶
FO parabolic flights (2011): First zero-G printing tests
↓
FO project 91394 (2011-2018): Validated FDM at TRL4→9
[parallel] SBIR chain 2012-2014: AMF from Phase I to Phase II design
↓
ISS AMF deployed (2016): Commercial printing facility on station
- Customers: NASA, commercial researchers, ESA
- Products: tools, parts, research objects manufactured on-orbit
↓
Expansion (2017-2020): Vulcan (metal printing), Crystal growth, Space fiber
- DARPA HALO contract: reconfigurable space systems
- DoD SBIR for in-space manufacturing qualification
↓
Acquisition (June 2020): Redwire Space acquires MIS for in-space manufacturing IP
↓
Post-Redwire: ISS AMF continues operating; lunar/deep space manufacturing roadmap
Key Insight¶
The critical link: the 2012 SBIR proposal (NNX12CE77P) explicitly states MIS "is scheduled to do sub-orbital testing in 2012 as part of NASA's Flight Opportunities Program." FO flight heritage was the lever that justified the SBIR Phase II investment. Without FO validating behavior in microgravity, the AMF funding would have been harder to secure.
TRL gain of 5 levels (4→9) over 7 years is the largest confirmed gain in the FO portfolio (sample: 430 projects). Outcome records are three generic "Advanced To" entries with no relatedProjectId — the ISS infusion story is invisible in TechPort structured fields.
Commercial note: Redwire went public via SPAC in 2021 (NYSE: RDW). Made in Space's AMF and manufacturing IP was a key asset in the deal.
Fourth FO Project: VULCAN (106743) — Active Redwire Product¶
Made in Space (by then Redwire) ran a fourth FO project: VULCAN (Vulcan Advanced Hybrid Manufacturing System), testing multi-material manufacturing in variable gravity (TRL 4→6, 2021–2024). VULCAN can produce aerospace-grade metals (titanium, aluminum) and high-grade polymers, combining additive manufacturing, subtractive milling, robotic handling, and inspection in one autonomous system.
VULCAN is a live Redwire product (redwirespace.com/products/vulcan/) — not a dead end. FO parabolic flight validation in variable gravity preceded product launch. Redwire's welding-based additive approach avoids the explosion risk of powder-based metal AM, which is a significant safety advantage for crewed platforms.
PI: Brandon Kirkland (Redwire)
Library item: TechPort project image
This is the 5th FO project in the Redwire portfolio: 1. AMF [91394] → ISS 3D printer (TRL9, deployed 2016) 2. GAMMA-ALF [106680] → dead end (parabolic only) 3. MSTIC [155254] → ISS semiconductor demo (NG-20, Feb 2024) 4. VULCAN [106743] → active commercial product for Artemis/deep space manufacturing 5. FAME [155247] → PIL-BOX pharma crystallization platform (see below)
Fifth FO Project: FAME (155247) — PIL-BOX Pharma Crystallization¶
FAME (Fluids at Altitude Mixing Experiment) tests the fluidics of Redwire's PIL-BOX Dynamic Microscopy Cassette (DMC) in microgravity. PIL-BOX is Redwire's most commercially successful ISS product line — a cassette-based platform for growing pharmaceutical crystals in microgravity.
PI: Kenneth Savin | Period: 2023-07-01 to 2026-05-31 | TRL: 4→6 (target) | Views: 2,616
PIL-BOX commercial traction (as of 2025): - 43+ units flown on ISS (the most deployed single pharmaceutical platform in orbit) - $3.19M InSPA Task Order (80JSC022F0133, 2022–2024) for seed crystal production - $4M additional NASA for drug crystals with partners Aspera and Eli Lilly (cancer therapeutics) - $25M IDIQ contract (Aug 2025, 5-year ceiling) for ISS biotech operations - $2.5M initial task order under IDIQ for PIL-BOX investigations - Industrial Crystallizer launched Apr 2025: 200× volume of original PIL-BOX — scaling from R&D to production - Purdue partnership (PI Zoltan Nagy, Nov 2025): cancer therapeutics crystal optimization
FO connection: FAME validates the DMC fluidics handling in microgravity before deploying more complex crystallization protocols on ISS. FO provides cheap screening of fluid handling approaches that would cost 10-100× more to test directly on ISS.
Archetype: FO as ISS precursor screening — same as MSTIC, ZBLAN, and other FO→ISS pathways. Redwire systematically uses FO to de-risk ISS manufacturing processes.
Third FO Project: MSTIC (155254) — ISS Deployment Confirmed Feb 2024¶
Made in Space (operating as Redwire brand) had a third FO project: MSTIC (Manufacturing of Semiconductors and Thin-film Integrated Coatings Parabolic Flight Testing). FO project 155254 (TRL 4→6, 2023-2026) validated PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) processes for depositing conductive material on wafer substrates in microgravity. PI: Alex Hayes; Co-I: Kyle George, Curtis Hill.
Why microgravity matters: Microgravity minimizes fractal formation from columnar growth, producing more uniform crystal lattices, improving conductivity and power efficiency — potentially superior to Earth-manufactured semiconductors.
ISS Deployment: The MSTIC facility launched to ISS on NG-20 (Northrop Grumman CRS-20, February 2024) — developed in partnership with the ISS National Laboratory and NASA's In Space Production Applications Flight Demonstrations program. MSTIC manufactured 18 thin-film semiconductor samples on ISS. Results showed improved crystal microstructure consistent with other microgravity crystal growth research.
Strategic context: Redwire is now explicitly targeting the global semiconductor market with in-space manufacturing. They announced a 30,000 sq ft microgravity payload development facility in Floyd County, Indiana (2024). The FO parabolic flight testing [155254] was the validation step that justified ISS deployment. This is a clean FO → ISS infusion pipeline: parabolic flight validates process → ISS facility manufactures product.
Timeline addition: - 2023: FO parabolic tests validate PVD/CVD in microgravity (TRL4→6) - Feb 2024: MSTIC launches on NG-20 to ISS - 2024: 18 thin-film samples manufactured on ISS; improved crystal microstructure confirmed - 2024: Redwire announces 30,000 sq ft Indiana facility for microgravity semiconductor manufacturing
Second FO Project: GAMMA-ALF (106680) — Dead End¶
Made in Space had a second FO project: GAMMA-ALF (Glass Alloy Manufacturing Machine - Acoustic Levitation Furnace), testing acoustic levitation for glass preform manufacturing in microgravity (TRL3→6, parabolic flights only, 2020–2022). This did NOT progress to ISS deployment.
Redwire's actual glass/optical manufacturing is ZBLAN (fluoride optical fiber, 100× more efficient than silica), produced via the MIS Fiber machine on ISS since 2017 — a different technology from GAMMA-ALF's acoustic levitation approach. After Redwire went public via SPAC (2021), portfolio rationalization focused capital on proven revenue streams. PI Alicia Carey left Redwire for Johns Hopkins APL.
GAMMA-ALF is a dead end: TRL6 via parabolic flight, no ISS deployment, no product. See dead_ends/gamma-alf-glass-fiber.md.
Session 36 Deep Refresh (2026-04-07)¶
AMF Being Removed from ISS (CRITICAL)¶
The Additive Manufacturing Facility is being removed from ISS. Per ISS National Lab: "The AMF is in the process of being removed." This ends the program that began in 2016 — the first permanent commercial manufacturing platform in LEO, with 200+ parts printed. The canonical FO success story hardware is being decommissioned.
Successor: FabLab — Redwire won a $5.9M NASA contract for FabLab, a multi-material 3D printer (metals, polymers, ceramics, electronics) intended for ISS testing as an Artemis deep-space precursor. Contract covers design maturation to spaceflight-ready status. A follow-on contract is anticipated for construction and ISS test — no ISS flight date announced as of April 2026.
MSTIC TRL Correction¶
TechPort shows MSTIC [155254] completed at TRL 4 (target was TRL 6) — the parabolic flights + ISS pathfinder (18 semiconductor samples on NG-20, Feb 2024) were proof-of-concept but full maturation is incomplete/unfunded. No Phase 2 ISS mission announced. This is a downgrade from the page's previous characterization.
PIL-BOX Commercial Traction (2025-2026 update)¶
- 14 PIL-BOX units launched in 2025 alone, studying 18 unique molecules
- 43 total units flown across program history; 11 active payload facilities on ISS at end of 2025
- Dec 2024: 12 units returned with 48 crystallization experiments (25 days). Customers: Bristol Myers Squibb (oncology/immunology/cardiovascular), ExesaLibero Pharma, Butler University
- Aug 2025: $25M IDIQ + $2.5M first task order + $4M additional for Aspera/Eli Lilly cancer drugs
- Industrial Crystallizer launched Apr 21, 2025 on SpaceX CRS-32 — 200× volume of original PIL-BOX cassette, scaling from R&D to production. First high-volume unit now on ISS.
- "Golden Balls" experiment launched same CRS-32 mission: produces gold nanospheres in microgravity for cancer detection/diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, and photothermal therapy — first-of-kind ISS nanomaterials production
- Purdue partnership (Nov 2025): PI Zoltan Nagy, cancer therapeutics crystal optimization
Redwire Financial Performance (FY2025)¶
| Metric | FY2025 | FY2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $335.4M | $304.1M | +10.3% |
| Q4 revenue | $108.8M | — | +56.4% YoY |
| Backlog | $411.2M | — | Record |
| Liquidity | $130.2M | — | +103.2% |
| 2026 guidance | $450–500M | — | ~42% YoY |
Q1 2026 EPS forecast: -$0.14, revenue ~$99.5M. Full-year 2026 revenue expected to build through the year due to lingering government shutdown delays. Defense tech segment expected to drive larger growth share (~20%). 7 analysts: Buy consensus, price target $13.71.
Stock (RDW): ~$9.73 (Apr 2026). 52-week range: $4.87–$22.25. Golden Dome missile defense contract drove +29% spike (Jan 2026).
Major 2025-2026 Non-FO Contracts¶
| Contract | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DARPA Otter (VLEO) | $44M | Air-breathing spacecraft at 90–250 km altitude |
| Golden Dome (MDA) | Part of $151B IDIQ | Missile defense |
| ELSA solar array (Moog) | $12.8M | First ELSA sale, METEOR bus |
| TEC docking systems | >$10M | 2× IDSS for Nyx capsule, ISS demo 2028 |
| Artemis II cameras | — | 11 cameras for Orion (contracts through Artemis V) |
| Mason lunar regolith | $12.9M | Tipping Point: berm/pad/road construction, CDR reached |
VULCAN Status¶
TechPort [106743] completed at TRL 6 (Aug 2024). No new announcements. Capabilities likely folding into FabLab's broader multi-material manufacturing roadmap.
Updated Timeline¶
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2016 | AMF deployed to ISS — first commercial manufacturing platform in LEO |
| 2020 | Acquired by Redwire Space (June 2020) |
| 2024 | MSTIC ISS pathfinder (18 semiconductor samples, NG-20, Feb 2024) |
| 2024 | VULCAN completed TRL 6 (Aug 2024) |
| 2025-04 | Industrial Crystallizer + Golden Balls launched on CRS-32 — first high-volume pharma production + gold nanosphere cancer diagnostics on ISS |
| 2025 | PIL-BOX: 14 units in 2025, BMS/Eli Lilly customers, $25M IDIQ |
| 2025 | FY2025 revenue $335.4M; DARPA Otter $44M; Artemis II cameras |
| 2026 | AMF being removed from ISS — end of an era |
| 2026 | FabLab ($5.9M) development as AMF successor (ISS flight date TBD) |
| 2026 | Revenue guidance $450–500M; Golden Dome missile defense; defense tech growing ~20% |
Session 88 Update (2026-04-07)¶
PIL-BOX Cadence Accelerating — 4th Batch Returned, 5th Set Launching¶
PIL-BOX cumulative stats (as of Session 88): - 28 PIL-BOX units processed (confirmed by Redwire) - 4th batch returned Dec 2025: 12 units, 48 crystallization experiments over 25 days for Bristol Myers Squibb (oncology/immunology/cardiovascular), ExesaLibero Pharma (ELP-004 anti-bone-resorption for rheumatoid arthritis, myeloma, breast/prostate cancers), and Butler University (seed crystals) - 5th set (PIL-04) launching on NG-21: 4 drug manufacturing experiments. Third PIL-BOX flight in 10 months. PIL-04 includes two reference molecule crystallizations to verify hardware/ops improvements to PIL-BOX DM integrated microscope system. - Previous stats still valid: 43+ total units flown; $25M IDIQ (Aug 2025); Industrial Crystallizer launched Apr 2025 (CRS-32)
FO connection: FAME [155247] validates PIL-BOX DMC fluidics in microgravity before ISS deployment. The accelerating PIL-BOX cadence (3 flights in 10 months) validates Redwire's systematic FO→ISS screening pipeline.
Redwire FY2025 Financials — Revenue Up, Still Unprofitable¶
| Metric | FY2025 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $335.4M | +10.3% YoY |
| Q4 revenue | $108.8M | +56.4% YoY |
| Net loss | $(226.6M) | Includes $130M non-recurring items |
| Adj. EBITDA | $(50.3M) | Q4: $(18.1M) |
| Book-to-bill | 1.25 | Indicates demand > delivery |
| Backlog | $355.6M | Record |
| 2026 guidance | $450-500M | ~42% YoY growth |
| Stock (RDW) | ~$9.73 | 52-week: $4.87-$22.25 |
Q1 2026 earnings: Scheduled May 13, 2026 (after close). Not yet reported.
New NASA Task Orders (USASpending 2025-2026)¶
| Award ID | Amount | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80JSC025F0046 | $3.23M | 2025-08 to 2030 | ISS NL scalable LEO markets (likely PIL-BOX umbrella) |
| 80JSC026F0011 | $415.6K | 2025-12 to 2026-12 | MVP Plant-02 (safety through flight) |
| 80JSC025FA092 | $275K | 2025-03 to 2026-01 | Stem cell vascularization (Micro-GRX) |
| 80JSC026F0014 | $231.4K | 2026-01 to 2027-12 | Adipose tissue mechanosensing |
| 80JSC026F0006 | $140K | 2026-01 to 2027-06 | NSF collaboration |
| 80JSC025FA093 | $52.9K | 2025-03 to 2026-01 | Adipose tissue (Temple University) |
These are biology/biotech task orders under Redwire's ISS operations umbrella — not directly FO-derived, but the infrastructure (ISS access, bioprocessing hardware) was originally built on FO-validated manufacturing processes.
No FabLab Update¶
FabLab ($5.9M design maturation) remains in development. No follow-on construction contract announced. No ISS flight date. With AMF being removed from ISS, FabLab is the successor — but timeline is unclear.
Open Threads¶
- FabLab timeline: when does the follow-on construction contract land? When does it launch to ISS?
- MSTIC Phase 2: will Redwire pursue further ISS semiconductor manufacturing? Indiana facility operational date?
- Industrial Crystallizer results: what comes back from the first high-volume CRS-32 unit? Does 200× volume translate to production-grade output?
- Golden Balls results: do microgravity gold nanospheres show diagnostic advantages vs. Earth-made?
- PIL-04 NG-21 results: do improved PIL-BOX DM hardware/ops translate to better crystal quality?
- How much of Redwire's $450-500M 2026 guidance is FO-heritage manufacturing vs. other product lines (ROSA, cameras, DARPA)?
Sources¶
- TechPort 91394 (live API, 2026-04-04)
- USASpending.gov awards for Redwire Space Inc (queried 2026-04-05)
- TechCrunch: "In-space additive manufacturing startup Made In Space acquired by Redwire" (June 2020)
- Redwire press release: "Redwire Acquires Made In Space" (June 24, 2020)
- NASA ISS Research Explorer: 3D Printing In Zero-G Technology Demonstration