TransOrbital has received US government approval to operate a commercial spacecraft to explore, photograph and land on the moon. The first will be launched by a Russian booster from Baikonur within a year. Trailblazer will offer high-definition 1m-resolution video and maps of the lunar surface, and will also allow customers to put personal photographs and messages on to the surface.
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.
