US company Spacehab and Germany's OHB-System have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide jointly commercial life sciences services on the Space Shuttle and on the International Space Station (ISS). They will establish a biotechnology business and upgrade the Commercial Biological Research Unit, which is planned for the STS107 mission in September next year as a precursor to ISS missions.
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.
