NASA's Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) was launched at 00.58 GMT on 6 December by an air-launched Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL booster. The $64 million SWAS will investigate the process involved in the creation of stars, when gravity collapses interstellar clouds of gas.
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.
