US firm deploys 60 kW roll-out solar arrays for NASA’s lunar Gateway

Florida-based Redwire Corporation has successfully completed the first deployment test of its 60 kW roll-out solar arrays (ROSA), which are intended to power NASA’s planned lunar Gateway space station. These ROSAs are the most powerful of their kind to date, featuring a high power density (40 kW per cubic meter) and an efficient power-to-mass ratio (100-120 W per kg). Their design uses composite booms that deploy the solar wings without motors, relying on strain energy for roll-out. Redwire is contracted to deliver two ROSA wings to Maxar, the firm building the Gateway’s power and propulsion element, by late 2025. The lunar Gateway, a small space station planned for lunar orbit as part of NASA’s Artemis program, aims to support a permanent human presence on the Moon and serve as a stepping stone for deeper space exploration. However, the program has faced funding uncertainties due to proposed budget cuts under the Trump administration. Despite this, a recent Senate amendment