The European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter has returned the closest-ever view of the Red Planet's moon, Phobos, taken from a distance of 200km (125 miles) with a resolution of 7m (23ft) per pixel. The first images of Phobos and its sister moon, Deimos, were taken by NASA's Mariner 9 in 1971. Phobos measures 27 x 22 x 18km.
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.
