Arianespace says it has dropped plans to invest $29 million in adapting facilities at its Kourou space centre to launch Russian Starsem Soyuz boosters, since the market for low-Earth orbit launches is slowing down and investment on Ariane 5 must take priority.
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.
