Redwire Corporation, a leader in space infrastructure for the next-generation space economy, announced that its advanced lunar and Martian manufacturing technology, Mason, has passed Critical Design Review (CDR) with NASA participation. Mason is a tool suite designed to operate on the Moon and Mars that will enable the construction of berms, landing pads, and roads for future lunar and Martian habitats. The project, managed under a Tipping Point agreement with NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, is part of a $12.9 million award to prototype Mason for broader plans to support a long-term presence and exploration on the lunar surface.

“We are proud to have completed this exciting milestone and bring Mason one step closer to launch,” said Redwire President of Space Missions, Tom Campbell. “Leveraging Redwire’s unmatched in-space manufacturing experience, Mason technology is critical to enabling sustainable operations on the Moon and Mars surface.”

Designed to be scalable and platform agnostic for use on different landers, rovers, or robotic arms, Mason can convert lunar or Martian regolith into a strong, solid material similar to concrete. Mason includes three tools: a grader tool called BASE (Blade for Autonomously Surfacing Environments), a compaction tool called PACT (Planetary Automated Compaction Tool), and a microwave sintering tool called M3LT (Microwave Melter of Martian and Lunar Terrain).

Regolith can cause equipment failures and maneuverability challenges, and it can become a dangerous projectile when accelerated by a rocket’s exhaust plume. The presence of dust on equipment and spacesuits can also have health impacts on astronauts. Rockets launching without a launch pad can incur significant damage. Clouds of dust propelled into orbit during launch can create debris for orbiting satellites, causing a satellite to move. Mason mitigates these risks while significantly lowering the cost of lunar and Martian exploration efforts.

With CDR completed, Redwire engineers will fabricate the Mason critical design prototype and conduct functional testing of the three tools. Redwire is currently exploring flight opportunities for a demonstration mission.

Redwire is leading a team of industry and academic partners to develop Mason, including NASA Kennedy Space Center Swamp Works, Lambda Technologies, Colorado School of Mines, and the University of Central Florida.

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