ILS International Launch Services has been awarded a contract from Asiasat to launch the Asiasat 4 satellite aboard an Atlas III booster in 2002. The Atlas III is ILS' latest commercial offering and made its maiden flight in May carrying Eutelsat's W4 satellite. Asiasat 4 will be at 122°E in geostationary orbit, offering 28 C-band and 20 Ku-band services, particularly to Hong Kong. It is a Hughes Space and Communications HS601 HP model.
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.
