Sean O'Keefe is expected to be the next administrator of NASA, replacing Dan Goldin after almost 10 years in charge of the US space agency. O'Keefe, a former deputy director of the US budget control office, is considered a suitable candidate to take control of the International Space Station budget. Changes to the programme and supporting efforts are likely to follow his appointment, including a cut in Space Shuttle launches.
Source: Flight International
China’s AVIC has secured a contract from the China Manned Space Agency to develop a winged, reusable spacecraft called Haolong.
The UK Space Command’s first owned earth observation microsatellite has been launched, providing the inaugural element of a planned space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) constellation.
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.
