Russia's Glonass navigation system will have 18 satellites in orbit by 2005 and 24 by 2010, says the country's federal space agency. Seven satellites are to be launched in the next 18 months. Expansion to 18 satellites will cost $120 million and to 24 saellites will cost twice that, says Viktor Khosenko, Glonass chief at the Applied Mechanics Research and Production Association.
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.
