The US Air Force has formally handed over its launch pad 46 at Cape Canaveral to Spaceport Florida Authority (SFA) for use by commercial-launcher companies, including Orbital Sciences and Lockheed. The USAF awarded SFA a payment of $2.74 million, while additional funding will come from the space industry and the state of Florida.
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.
