Russia's Energia and US-led MirCorp are planning to market Soyuz tourist flights. Russia will provide seven-day flights on Soyuz spacecraft with the standard attached orbital module providing the sightseeing facilities for two tourists. The Soyuz would be piloted by a commander, without a flight engineer. Earlier versions of the Soyuz flew independent missions and in 1970, the two crew flew the longest such mission lasting 17 days and 17hr.
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.
