The space agencies of Brazil and Ukraine have signed along-expected memorandum of understanding to use the Alcantara Launch Centre in a joint venture to launch Tsyklon 4 boosters. From 2005 the Tsyklon 4 will be able to place payloads of just 1,800kg (3,965lb) into geostationary orbit for about$30 million. The venture predicts 10 launches a year, but market forecasts for such lightweight communications satellites do not match this optimism.
Source: Flight International
China’s AVIC has secured a contract from the China Manned Space Agency to develop a winged, reusable spacecraft called Haolong.
The UK Space Command’s first owned earth observation microsatellite has been launched, providing the inaugural element of a planned space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) constellation.
Orbital launch pioneer SpaceX is being contracted by the American space agency NASA to develop a so-called “US Deorbit Vehicle” that can safely return the International Space Station to Earth via controlled re-entry.
