Today's Aerospace Pulse
Blue Origin’s New Glenn suffers catastrophic engine failure during static fire
A BE‑4 methane/LOX engine on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket failed four seconds after ignition, causing a catastrophic explosion that destroyed the first‑stage booster and damaged Launch Complex 36A. No personnel were injured. An FAA‑led investigation, supported by the U.S. Space Force, is under way.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Disciplined Growth Acquisition Corp raises $150M in IPO
GoPro Tests Defense and Aerospace Market Opportunities
GoPro announced a strategic push into the defense and aerospace sectors, hiring consulting firm Oliver Wyman to evaluate market potential. The engagement will chart addressable segments, product synergies and go‑to‑market strategies while liaising with government and aerospace stakeholders. GoPro highlighted existing use cases, such as mounting its cameras on the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, to illustrate mission‑critical relevance. Oliver Wyman estimates the global defense and aerospace imaging market runs into billions of dollars, underscoring the opportunity’s scale.
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...
Air India Receives First Upgraded Boeing 787-8 in Delhi From California as $400 Million Refurbishment Plan Progresses
Air India’s first refurbished Boeing 787‑8, registration VT‑ANT, touched down in Delhi after a nonstop ferry from San Bernardino, California, marking the rollout of a $400 million cabin‑upgrade programme. The overhaul, delayed by supply‑chain and geopolitical issues, will refresh 26 Dreamliners and 13...
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...
Ukraine Develops New Surface-to-Air Missile
Ukraine’s president unveiled a previously unseen surface‑to‑air missile, likely the domestically developed “Koral” system. The interceptor appears to use proven propulsion, guidance and fuze components, accelerating its path from prototype to fielding. Earlier exhibition models suggested a 30‑50 km engagement envelope,...
Arxis (ARXS) IPO Deck
Arxis (ticker ARXS) has filed an initial public offering, presenting a deck that outlines its business of designing and manufacturing mission‑critical electronic and mechanical components for aerospace, defense, and specialized industrial customers. The company highlights its role supplying parts for...
AEVEX (AVEX) IPO Deck
Aevex (ticker AVEX) unveiled an IPO presentation on April 13, 2026, signaling its intention to list on a major U.S. exchange. The defense‑technology firm specializes in advanced unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles used by military and intelligence customers. The deck highlights a...
April 13, 2026 Quick Space Links
Space industry observers noted several key developments on April 13. NASA engineers examined the Artemis‑2 Orion capsule, while ISRO completed landing‑engine tests for its Chandrayaan‑5 lunar mission slated for 2028, and China’s Chang’e‑7 mini‑hopper prepared for a 2024 launch to...
Meink Emphasizes Technological Excellence, Acquisition Transformation During Ohio Immersion
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink wrapped up a week‑long immersion at Wright‑Patterson Air Force Base on April 3, emphasizing the Air Force Materiel Command’s push for technological excellence and faster acquisition cycles. He toured AFMC’s six centers, the Air...
Meink Emphasizes Technological Excellence, Acquisition Transformation During Ohio Immersion
During an Ohio immersion event, Space Force acquisition leader Lt. Gen. Meink highlighted the service’s push for technological excellence and a sweeping acquisition transformation. He outlined new rapid‑prototype initiatives, tighter integration with commercial partners, and a data‑driven decision framework. Meink...
Japanese Team Unveils Lightweight Mirror for Ultra‑Sharp X‑ray Telescope
Scientists at Nagoya University have built a lightweight nickel mirror that lets a sounding‑rocket X‑ray telescope resolve a 3.5 mm target from a kilometer away. Tested at the SPring‑8 synchrotron, the system will fly aboard the US‑Japan FOXSI‑4 mission, marking a...
Kongsberg Develops New Drone Hunter Vehicle for Ukraine
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has unveiled a donor‑funded Inguar‑3 counter‑drone vehicle tailored for Ukraine, pairing a Ukrainian‑made armored chassis with the firm’s CROWS C‑UAS kit. The system integrates electro‑optical and infrared sensors on a raised mast and can fire 70 mm...
Skyeton Unveils Zero‑Emission Fuel‑Cell Drone, Aiming for 20‑Hour Flights
Skyeton announced that its hybrid Raybird (ACS‑3) fuel‑cell drone has entered combat service with over 10 hours of flight time, and plans to extend endurance to 20 hours using on‑site green‑hydrogen generation. The move could reshape both military and civilian...
Amazon Mulls $9 B Offer for Globalstar to Accelerate Satellite Broadband
Amazon is exploring a bid valued around $9 billion for Globalstar, a satellite communications firm with valuable spectrum licenses in more than 120 countries. The move would speed Amazon’s plan to expand its Project Kuiper constellation, which currently trails rivals like...
Airbus Delivers 500th A220 as March Output Signals Production Ramp-Up
Airbus announced the delivery of its 500th A220 jet on April 10, 2026, marking a milestone for the narrow‑body program. The company reported 60 commercial aircraft deliveries in March, up from a combined 54 in January and February, signaling a...
Hughes Readies Satellite Antenna Combo for Airlines
Hughes Network Systems announced a new electronically steerable antenna (ESA) that merges Ka‑band and Ku‑band capabilities, aiming to free airlines from reliance on a single satellite network. The solution pairs the existing HL1520 Ku‑band ESA with a newly developed Ka‑band...
Russia Calls for Expanded International Space Cooperation on Gagarin's 65th Anniversary
On the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov urged expanded international cooperation in space. The appeal comes as Russia reports $6.5 bn in industry revenue, 17 launches last year and plans...
SpaceX Deploys 25 Starlink V2 Mini Satellites on Falcon 9 From Vandenberg
SpaceX lifted 25 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, using booster B1100 on its fourth flight. The launch highlights the company's push to treat orbit as a manufacturing line, accelerating global broadband...
Watch: SpaceX Launches Cygnus XL Cargo Ship to Resupply ISS Crew
SpaceX's Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 7:41 a.m. EDT on Saturday, carrying Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft. The Cygnus XL is bound for the International Space Station to deliver scientific experiments, food, and equipment for the crew....
United Airlines' Massive 364-Seat Boeing 777s: Every Route Listed
United Airlines' fleet includes 19 Boeing 777‑200s, seven of which are stored due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues. All 777‑200s have been reconfigured to 364 seats, making them the highest‑capacity aircraft in United’s domestic lineup and surpassing rivals’ largest planes....
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Chris Quilty, Quilty Space
Chris Quilty, co‑CEO of Quilty Space, has become a pivotal voice in satellite market intelligence, most notably after his September 2025 projection that Starlink would generate $15.9 billion in revenue and $11 billion in EBITDA for 2026. His forecasts have been baked into...
Airhart Takes Off
Airhart Aeronautics, founded by former SpaceX avionics engineer Nikita Ermoshkin, unveiled a four‑seat prototype that consumes just 7.4 gallons of fuel per hour and features a dual‑touch “electronized” cockpit that automates routine tasks. The company raised $4.56 million in venture capital...
US Clears Counter-Drone Laser System for Southern Border Use
The FAA and Department of Defense have cleared a high‑energy laser system for counter‑drone use along the southern border after a detailed safety review. Live demonstrations showed the laser can engage rogue UAVs without affecting aircraft, navigation systems or broader...
Qantas Nonstop London-Sydney Flights Move One Step Closer
Qantas has placed an order for 12 Airbus A350‑900ULR aircraft equipped with Rolls‑Royce engines to power its Project Sunrise nonstop service between London and Sydney. The first jet, now in Toulouse, includes a 20,000‑litre rear fuel tank that will support...
Indian Spacetech Startups Shift Gears From R&D to Scalable Manufacturing
Indian spacetech startups are moving from pure research to large‑scale manufacturing as demand for low‑Earth‑orbit constellations accelerates. Bellatrix Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos and Red Balloon Aerospace have each built regulated, additive‑manufacturing and assembly‑line processes to shrink build cycles from months to...
NASA Is the Most Underrated Brand
Four astronauts completed Artemis II, the deepest crewed flight to date, looping the Moon with a 5.7 million‑pound rocket. The mission reignited public pride, with 80% of Americans rating NASA favorably and its website rivaling major tech brands in traffic. Despite higher...
Mission Control Taps Magellan Aerospace for Lunar Utility Rover Systems
Mission Control announced that Magellan Aerospace will develop core subsystems for Canada’s Lunar Utility Rover, a semi‑autonomous, minibus‑sized vehicle. The Canadian Space Agency has earmarked about $985 million USD in total, with $876 million USD allocated over 13 years for design and...
NASA and Contractors Accelerate Mobile Launcher Refurbishment, Artemis III Hardware to Meet New Schedule
NASA is accelerating the Artemis program to enable a mid‑2027 Artemis III launch, moving solid‑rocket booster deliveries forward and fast‑tracking mobile‑launcher refurbishment. The 112‑meter‑tall mobile launcher will be inspected, power‑washed, and welded to remove corrosive booster residue and repair heat‑warped structure...
HAPS Specialist Claims Record for Stratospheric Flight
US aerospace firm Sceye completed a 12‑day, 6,400‑mile stratospheric flight from New Mexico to Brazil, setting a record with 88 hours over the target area. The SE2 HAPS platform maintained power, position and pressure loops using solar energy and batteries,...
MDA Announces Orbital Servicing Platform
MDA Space unveiled MDA Midnight, an on‑orbit servicing platform, at the Space Symposium. The satellite is built for rendezvous and proximity operations to detect, identify, counter and deter threats to space assets. Its inaugural mission will showcase inspection, electronic‑countermeasure mitigation,...
Delta Air Lines to Operate Edinburgh-New York Service Year-Round
Delta Air Lines announced it will operate a year‑round service between Edinburgh and New York, converting the previously seasonal route into a permanent offering. The airline will deploy Airbus A330‑300 aircraft equipped with Delta One and Main Cabin seats, providing...
Air Charter Association Joins Climbing Fast Advocacy Campaign
The Air Charter Association (ACA) became the 17th member of the Climbing Fast advocacy coalition, announced at its European Regional Forum in Friedrichshafen. Climbing Fast, launched by the NBAA in 2023, promotes the economic and societal benefits of business aviation to policymakers...
British Airways Starts Cancelling Some Short-Haul Services in May as Jet Fuel Prices Surge
British Airways announced it will cancel several short‑haul flights in May as jet fuel prices spike following heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The airline said it is combining high‑frequency services but most routes will still operate as scheduled....
MOD Admits £6.1bn AWE Accounting Error ‘Shouldn’t Have Happened’
The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has admitted a £6.1 billion (≈$7.6 billion) accounting error tied to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), the body that builds and dismantles the nation’s nuclear warheads. The National Audit Office flagged the mis‑classification of historic AWE...
Canada Awards $1.1 Billion Contracts to L3Harris for CC-330 Husky Tanker Fleet Sustainment
Canada has awarded L3Harris roughly C$1.1 billion (about $810 million USD) in two multi‑year contracts to sustain its nine‑aircraft CC‑330 Husky aerial‑refueling fleet. The deals include a 10‑year depot‑maintenance contract worth C$735 million ($543 million) and a 7‑year materiel‑support contract of C$366 million ($270 million). Airbus...
With Renewed Interest in Going to the Moon, How Will Future Trash Be Dealt With?
Renewed lunar activity has revived concerns over the 400,000 lb (181 t) of Apollo-era trash now classified as human heritage under the 2020 One Small Step Act. While the Artemis Accords and UN bodies stress debris mitigation, concrete plans for surface waste...
Artemis 2: Our Favorite Photos From NASA's Historic Moon Mission
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission concluded on April 10 with a splashdown in the Pacific after a 10‑day flight around the Moon’s far side. The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—set several historic milestones, including the first woman and the...
Airports Report Delays and Disruption as Europe’s Entry Exit System Begins Full Operation
The EU’s Entry‑Exit System (EES) entered full operation on 10 April, triggering extensive delays at Schengen airports as every third‑country national must be registered. Peak‑hour border checks stretched to two‑three hours, forcing airlines to cancel or depart with empty cabins. Airport...
Physical AI and Space Infrastructure Outpace Software Names
ListingTrack Weekly Theme Recap (Week Ending 04/10/26) This week, Next Gen Defense and New Space both traded higher, with strength skewed toward space infrastructure, Earth observation and physical AI platforms, while pockets of software‑heavy cyber, AI decision‑support and one launch name...
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.
Amazon's Faster, Single-Dish Wi‑Fi Wins Delta over Starlink
This may explain why Delta went with Amazon instead of Starlink. 3X the download speed and only a single dish required for each aircraft. $AMZN $DAL
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
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
German Soldiers Pilot FPV Drones via Goggles
Inside Germany’s New FPV #Drone Unit: Soldiers Fly Missions Through Goggles by @NSTRIKE1231 #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/K0bEhAZIwv
Hawkeye360 IPO Preps with $117M Revenue, Massive Backlog
Satellite signals-intel provider @hawkeye360, preparing IPO on @NYSE, reports $117.7M in 2025 rev, $24.8M EBITDA and sharply lower operating loss. Revenue was 61% US government, 16% Japan, 23% rest of world. Backlog, at $302.7M, up 6.8x from 2024.https://t.co/E8IPZWf3pK https://t.co/QgmLlopOAW
Ed Responds to United’s New Long‑Haul Strategy
A few episodes ago on The Air Show podcast when we were driving into United’s new long haul offerings, I closed with “Your move, Ed.” Ed’s move:
Funding Cuts Kill Reusable Angara Rocket Plans
...Last but not least, all attempts to develop a reusable version of the Angara rocket are now dead due to absence of funding for that purpose in the newly approved budget, Khrunichev official said. CONTEXT: https://t.co/Mp292k3hJC https://t.co/ENtbupoBsX
Inside the 747-8i Conversion to Doomsday Plane
Exclusive: I recently had the chance to get on a 747-8i that SNC is converting into an E-4C Doomsday plane, for an up-close look at how the work is beginning and the outlook for the program In the latest issue of...
Delta's New Business Suites, Coach Gets Real Upgrade
Delta Finally Announces Its New Business Class Suites — But The Most Important Upgrade Is Actually In Coach - View from the Wing https://t.co/VoO8Qjx6XJ