China's planned lunar orbiter, to be launched in 2007, will be based on the Dongfanghong communications satellite bus and will be launched by a Long March 3A booster, says the China National Space Administration. The flight will be followed in 2010 and 2020 by a lunar lander and lunar sample return mission, respectively.
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.
