The US Air Force has exercised its third option under its small-launch-vehicle contract with Orbital Sciences, for a Pegasus launch of the STEP 4, space test programme satellite, in 1997. Other options exercised, were for the STEP 3 and fast on-orbit recording of transient events satellites, in 1995 and 1996.
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.
