NASA has released the first image of Mars taken by the $297 million Mars Odyssey orbiter from an altitude of 22,000km (13,600miles). The image taken by the craft's thermal emission imaging spectro-meter shows a 2,000km wide, 6,500km long swathe centred on the south pole, revealing its-120íC (-49íF), 900km diameter frozen ice cap. Once Odyssey is in operational orbit, the imager will be used to detect minerals and possible thermal springs.
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.
