The European Space Agency has placed orders with Arianespace for the launch of nine Automated Transfer Vehicles for the International Space Station (ISS) on Ariane 5s. They are being designed by an Aerospatiale-Matra-led consortium and will be launched from 2003.
Source: Flight International
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.
BAE Systems has completed its acquisition of Ball Aerospace, with the move further strengthening its US business presence.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has retired its Mars helicopter Ingenuity after the craft suffered damage upon landing.
