AE Industrial Partners-backed space tech firm makes first deal

Redwire has made its first acquisition since the space technology company formally launched in June out of a combination of two other companies held by AE Industrial Partners.

AEI-backed Redwire said Tuesday it has purchased Made In Space, a provider of in-space manufacturing and in-orbit assembly technologies. Terms of the transaction were undisclosed but Redwire said the deal also includes Made In Space Europe, a subsidiary that provides robotic systems to the global space economy.

Made In Space is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida and touts its capabilities regarding additive manufacturing in space, in-orbit manufacturing and assembly, zero gravity materials development, and human space exploration manufacturing.

The company's three-dimensional printing technologies have been used on the International Space Station. Made In Space also participates in Archinaut One, a NASA mission for demonstrating how to assemble solar arrays for a satellite orbiting in space in order to give the platform greater power generation capacity.

Led by CEO Peter Cannito, Redwire was formed after AEI merged Adcole Space and Deep Space Systems.

PricewaterhouseCoopers served as financial adviser and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal adviser to Redwire. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP was legal adviser to Made In Space.