Virgin Orbit has awarded the UK division of Spanish-based space system supplier AVS a contract to build the portable ground operating system to support satellite launches from Spaceport Cornwall starting in 2022.

Four NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronauts made a weather-delayed return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on May 2.

NASA will stop work on the Human Landing System flight demonstration while the Government Accountability Office considers two protests of the space agency’s recent $2.9 billion contract award to SpaceX.

NASA and SpaceX late April 29 delayed for a second time the planned undocking and splashdown of the four Crew-1 Dragon astronauts from the International Space Station due to high winds.

Arianespace’s Vega light launcher placed six satellites into orbit on April 28 in a successful return to flight that was crucial for the program.

After a brief pause to send the SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA last week, SpaceX on April 28 resumed launching its Starlink broadband constellation into low Earth orbit.

German satellite launcher firms Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and ISAR Aerospace have signed agreements to launch from a new orbital launch site planned for Andoya, Norway. 

Eutelsat Communications is buying a quarter stake in recently reborn constellation provider OneWeb for $550 million, the companies announced April 27.