WASHINGTON — Space infrastructure company Redwire has secured a contract to provide an additional satellite platform for a U.S. Space Force orbital refueling experiment.

The satellite order, announced Feb. 11, is for a third Mako satellite bus for the Space Force’s Tetra-6 in-orbit refueling experiment scheduled for 2027. The prime contractor for the experiment, Arcfield, had previously ordered two Mako platforms for the Tetra-5 experiment, scheduled for 2025.

The Tetra-5 and Tetra-6 missions represent key tests of in-space refueling capabilities, a sector of the market closely being watched by military and commercial stakeholders as they seek to extend satellite lifespans.