Today's Aerospace Pulse
Updated 2h ago
Atomic-6 launches ODC.Space marketplace for orbital data centers
Atomic-6 unveiled ODC.Space, an online marketplace that lets customers order orbital data center hardware from shared 1U units up to sovereign 42U racks. The largest rack configuration is priced at roughly $3.5million per month, with initial deliveries expected in two to three years.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Sierra Space raises $550M in private funding round
NASA Picks Nikon D5 DSLR as Primary Camera for Artemis II Mission
NASA has selected Nikon's D5 DSLR as the primary imaging system for the Artemis II crewed lunar flyby, favoring a proven, consumer‑grade camera over newer mirrorless models. The decision underscores the agency’s emphasis on reliability, weight considerations, and budget efficiency for deep‑space hardware.
Navy Seeks Fast, Carrier‑Free Trainer Amid F/A‑XX Focus
With all of the focus on F/A-XX, it is worth watching the competition for the next Navy trainer. Especially as the service has shown intention to move quickly (and avoid carrier landings) In the current issue: https://t.co/hNCixl9Kwq
Volato, M2i Global Target Late‑May Close After SEC Declares Form S‑4 Effective
Volato Group and M2i Global said the SEC has made their Form S‑4 registration effective, clearing the way for a shareholder vote on May 7 and a projected late‑May closing. The deal merges Volato’s aviation‑tech platform with M2i’s critical‑minerals supply‑chain business,...
Amazon Unveils Leo Aviation Antenna, Promising Gigabit In‑Flight Connectivity
Amazon announced the Leo Aviation Antenna, a low‑profile phased‑array terminal that can deliver up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload to commercial aircraft. The hardware is slated for service in mid‑2026, positioning Amazon against SpaceX’s Starlink in the fast‑growing inflight...
China's CASC Unveils 5‑Meter Composite Propulsion Module for Reusable Spacecraft
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) unveiled the nation’s largest integrated composite propulsion module for reusable spacecraft, a 5‑meter‑diameter structure that is over 60% composite, can bear 1,000‑tonne axial loads, and was built in a seven‑month cycle. The milestone...
Bolivian Cessna Disappears 30 Minutes After Takeoff
Tragic update from Bolivian skies. A private Cessna Citation Bravo (CP-3243) departed La Paz’s El Alto Airport around 8:19 local time on April 13, bound for Santa Cruz, with only two pilots on board. Roughly 30 minutes after takeoff, the crew lost...
House Appropriations Markup Dates Set for FY2027 Bills
Haven't heard anything yet about a NASA FY2027 hearing, but House Appropriations will markup the CJS bill at sbcmte level on April 30 and full cmte on May 13. Sbcmte markup and full cmte markup of the Defense bill are...
Sierra Space Secures $550M Private Funding Round
Sierra Space, the commercial space division of Sierra Nevada Corporation, announced a $550 million private funding round to boost its national‑security and defense capabilities. The round, reported on April 13, 2026, provides capital for further development of the Dream Chaser space plane...
Artemis II Post‑Flight Press Conference
The Artemis II post-flight press conf is this Thursday, Apr 16, at 2:30 pm ET. https://t.co/53UepeaDOb Watch on YouTube.
US Army Expends All Precision Strike Missiles Early in Iran Conflict
The US Army fired its entire stock of Precision Strike Missiles in the opening stages of the war against Iran. via @TheDEWLine https://t.co/CvFJqTGvTs
Gravitics Secures $60M Strategic Funding From U.S. Space Force and Private Investors
Gravitics, a commercial space-station infrastructure firm, has finalized a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) agreement with the U.S. Space Force, combining $30 million in government funding with $30 million in private capital. The $60 million deal, finalized in March 2026, will...
How a SpaceX IPO Could Reshape Markets, ETFs, and the Space Industry
The conversation centered on the looming SpaceX initial public offering and its potential to reshape financial markets. Analysts highlighted that index providers worldwide are already considering rule‑book changes to admit the company sooner than traditional waiting periods would allow, underscoring...
LIVE: Donald Trump’s Big Plan For Strait of Hormuz | USS Tripoli Launches Night Ops Near Hormuz|N18G
The U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA‑7) conducted night operations in the Arabian Sea, launching F‑35B Lightning II jets as part of a large‑scale exercise. About 15 U.S. warships are now stationed near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery...
MGU Revives Apophis Mission as Modern Cubesat
Moscow State University, MGU (my alma mater;) suddenly revived the idea of a mission to Apophis, but now in a cubesat form. No mention of the original project from two decades ago, but https://t.co/5Uo4JA9Xcu uniquely preserves the context: https://t.co/oNmeevbzhR https://t.co/nNmr4JJzyS
Going to SPACE!
The video follows Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS37 mission, highlighting the company’s ambition to make space travel routine for ordinary people. It documents the journey from the launch site in West Texas to the final ascent, emphasizing that the crew...
Trump Needs A-10s to Go After Iranian Speedboats and Patrol Ships
The Trump administration has imposed a naval blockade of Iran’s ports, allowing only non‑Iranian vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz. To counter Iran’s 3,000‑4,000 missile‑armed speedboats and 133 patrol ships, officials argue the A‑10 Thunderbolt II is the most suitable...
ESA Opens €1 Million Call for Crew Launch Abort Demonstrator, Targeting Ariane 6 Safety
The European Space Agency has opened a €1 million (about $1.1 million) call for proposals to design a crew launch abort demonstrator, kicking off a 12‑month System Level Definition phase on 10 April. The effort focuses on modelling pad‑abort scenarios for an Ariane 6...
Government Announces Billions in Spending on Military Drones
The Australian government unveiled a decade‑long investment of at least $12 bn AUD (about $7.9 bn USD) in military drones and counter‑drone systems. The package includes $2 bn AUD (~$1.3 bn USD) in the new Integrated Investment Program and $2.2 bn AUD (~$1.45 bn USD) for...
Pentagon's Flagship Golden Dome Program Spinning Its Wheels
The Pentagon’s Golden Dome program, touted as a flagship modernization effort, has stalled more than a year after its public launch. Internal disagreements over the system’s architecture have created a coordination bottleneck, preventing meaningful progress. The initiative, intended to integrate...
Royal Navy Tests CAPSTONE Drone in Anti-Submarine Warfare Demonstration
The Royal Navy evaluated Certo Aerospace’s CAPSTONE VTOL drone in a February anti‑submarine warfare trial, demonstrating more than two hours of flight while deploying sonobuoys and feeding acoustic data to a ground station. The drone transmitted sensor information via Starlink...
