Posted: Sat, Dec 21 12:02 PM ET (1702 GMT)
Two Russian cosmonauts conducted a spacewalk outside the International Space Station Thursday. Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner spent 7 hours and 17 minutes outside the station, installing an X-ray spectrometer instrument on the exterior of the Zvezda module. They also replaced electrical connectors on the hull of Zvezda and collected experiments that has been exposed to the space environment.

Related Links:

•  Space.com article
•  Aviation Week article
•  Tass article

Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:59 AM ET (1659 GMT)
Vast Space has signed a deal with SpaceX for up to two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station. Vast announced Thursday the agreement for the Crew Dragon missions to the station, which would require NASA approval. NASA has so far approved four such private astronaut missions, or PAMs, all by Axiom Space and also using Crew Dragon spacecraft. Vast announced earlier this year its intent to compete for future PAM opportunities offered by NASA, stating that the experience it would gain from such missions would help its development of commercial space stations.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  Space.com article
•  Vast press release

Avio signs ESA contracts for Vega upgrades and Earth science satellite launch
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:57 AM ET (1657 GMT)
Avio signed a set of contracts with the European Space Agency regarding its Vega rocket. Avio announced Wednesday the contracts, one of which covers upgrades...

Chinese sea-based launch places four satellites into orbit
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:56 AM ET (1656 GMT)
A Chinese commercial rocket completed a sea-based launch Thursday. The Ceres-1S rocket lifted off at 5:18 am EST (1018 GMT) from a...

Axiom Space revises plan for commercial space station
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:54 AM ET (1654 GMT)
Axiom Space is revising is plans to assemble a commercial space station. The company announced Wednesday a revised sequence of modules for Axiom Station, which...