NASA has exercised an Orbital Sciences' Pegasus XL launch option under its Small Expendable Launch Vehicle Services (SELVS) contract, to launch the Wide-Field Infra- Red Explorer (WIRE) in 1998. The SELVS contract is for up to ten launches, one of which has been completed, and five others of which, including the WIRE, have been manifested (Flight International, 17-23 July).
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.
