Reditus readies first spacecraft for SpaceX launch

Colin Demarest

Shiny, golden conical spacecraft module on a metal cradle with visible panels and cables, displayed indoors against a white wall with large red lettering. — The ENOS spacecraft, which weighs about 440 pounds. Photo: Courtesy of Reditus Space

Reditus Space is increasingly interested in hypersonics and missile-defense work, chief executive Stef Crum told Axios.

Why it matters: Competition among the U.S., China and Russia is fierce.

"Hypersonics is one of the areas where there has been a tremendous amount of development in recent years," Crum said in an interview.

Driving the news: Reditus recently completed construction of its first spacecraft, ENOS. It has been sent to Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, and is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX rideshare this fall.

ENOS, weighing some 440 pounds, is expected to stay in orbit for two months, after which it will de-orbit and splash down off Florida for recovery.
"As we re-enter, we have the relatively unique capability of hitting the atmosphere at north of Mach 25," Crum said. "There are very few things in human existence that go that quickly."

Zoom in: Reditus is billing this first mission, focused on commercial microgravity research and manufacturing, as a demonstration, proving to the world it can bring things back from space.

"Things are going to get higher in altitude, faster — and this is just part of the infrastructure that is needed to keep up," Crum said.

State of play: Reditus raised a little more than $7 million last year.

The startup, based in Atlanta, employs around 12 people.

What we're watching: The progress of Trump 2.0's Golden Dome, and to what degree the $185 billion promise is influencing defense-industrial business decisions.

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Reditus readies first spacecraft for SpaceX launch

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