Money allocated to the Russian space programme in 1998 is "so inadequate" that it could discontinue space activities. The cash is "not enough" to honour Russia's commitment to the International Space Station claims Vladimir Gusev, chairman of the Russian parliamentary industry and transport committee. The allocations are 60% less than required and mark a "complete repudiation of space science", he says.
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.
