JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced today that its 3D BioFabrication Facility (BFF) onboard the International Space Station (ISS) has been awarded a 2023 Popular Science Best of What’s New Award in the Health Category. Popular Science’s Best of What’s New Awards winners represent a significant advancement in one of ten categories.
In September, Redwire announced that it had successfully 3D bioprinted the first human knee meniscus on orbit using BFF. This milestone opens the door to improved treatments for meniscal injuries, one of the most common injuries for U.S. Service Members. Demonstrating the ability to successfully print complex tissue is a major leap forward toward the development of a repeatable microgravity manufacturing process for reliable bioprinting at scale.
“We are proud to be recognized by Popular Science for our groundbreaking bioprinting work happening on the ISS,” said Redwire Executive Vice President John Vellinger. “Redwire is dedicated to using BFF and other Redwire biotech facilities, such as our Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratory (PIL) drug manufacturing payload, to leverage the unique environment of microgravity to benefit human health on Earth."
The print returned to Earth onboard the SpaceX Crew-6 mission for analysis following successful print operations in July. The print was conducted as part of the BFF-Meniscus-2 Investigation with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Center for Biotechnology (4D Bio3), a biomedical research center that explores and adapts promising biotechnologies for warfighter benefit. The investigation was conducted by NASA astronauts Frank Rubio, Warren “Woody” Hoburg, and Stephen Bowen, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.
"Since 1988, Popular Science has proudly celebrated the groundbreaking innovations changing our world. The Best of What’s New Awards showcase the year's radical ideas that are improving our everyday lives and our futures. From pioneering disease treatments to inspiring progress in space exploration, and from the electrification of the auto industry to forward-thinking gadgets, this year’s list truly represents the Best of What’s New in 2023," said Popular Science Editor-in-Chief, Annie Colbert.
On the recent SpaceX-29 mission to the ISS, Redwire launched materials for an investigation that will bioprint cardiac tissue on station using the award-winning BFF, sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory. This type of technology could be used to develop heart patches that can be applied to the outside of damaged hearts and advances the ability to print complex, thick tissues that cannot be produced on Earth.
BFF and PIL are part of Redwire’s broad portfolio of space biotech and microgravity development capabilities targeting the use of the unique environment in space to enhance life on Earth. Redwire has developed 20 research facilities for the ISS, with eight currently operating there to deliver world-leading research.
About Redwire
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) is a global leader in mission critical space solutions and high reliability components for the next generation space economy, with valuable intellectual property for solar power generation, in-space 3D printing and manufacturing, avionics, critical components, sensors, digital engineering, and space-based biotechnology. It combines decades of flight heritage with an agile and innovative culture. The company’s “Heritage plus Innovation” strategy enables it to combine proven performance with new, innovative capabilities to provide its customers with the building blocks for the present and future of space infrastructure. For more information, please visit redwirespace.com.
