Today's Aerospace Pulse
Icelandair to retire B757‑200 fleet by late 2026
Icelandair announced it will retire its Boeing 757‑200 aircraft in late 2026 as part of fleet modernization. In the same coverage cluster, Flexjet’s Irish subsidiary received regulatory approval to operate in the United States.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Eaton merges mobility business with Dana in $10B deal
Air Astana Steps up Capacity as Kazakhstan Emerges as a Key Europe-Asia Connector
Air Astana Group is capitalising on shifting Europe‑Asia traffic, reporting a 65% year‑on‑year rise in international transit during Q1 2026 and a 158% jump in March alone. The airline redeployed roughly 18% of its capacity to higher‑demand markets such as China, Southeast Asia, the CIS and select European routes. Fleet expansion includes two Boeing 787s this year, raising the aircraft count from 67 to a target of 86 by 2030, while 11 new routes are slated for launch. The carrier positions Kazakhstan as a stable, sustainable connector between Europe and Asia.
Hong Kong’s First Astronaut Success Is Also a Story of Youth Potential
Dr Lai Ka‑Ying became Hong Kong’s first astronaut and the fourth female astronaut from China, joining the Shenzhou‑23 crew as a payload specialist. She will operate HKUST’s Musico observatory on the Tiangong space station to track greenhouse‑gas emissions. The mission highlights...
Now Is the Time to Boost CCA Investment
The U.S. Air Force is requesting roughly $1 billion in the FY 2027 defense budget to move the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program into production. CCA are autonomous, uncrewed jets designed to operate alongside manned fighters, acting as force multipliers and reducing...
GE, Rolls-Royce Get Contracts to Advance Autonomous Drone Engine Designs
The U.S. Air Force awarded firm‑fixed‑price contracts to GE Aerospace and Rolls‑Royce Liberty Works to advance medium‑thrust engines for its Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) drones. GE will complete a preliminary design review of its GE426 engine, while Rolls‑Royce’s AE engine...
Electric Plane Flies 300 Miles on $8 Energy
"This flight, for about an hour, will cost us about $8 in energy" "The electric plane can charge in about 50 minutes" "the aircraft can travel more than 300 miles on a single charge" "Plus, as the plane descends, the force of going...
Spire Posts 44% Q4 Revenue Jump, Eyes 50% Growth in 2026
Spire Global announced fourth‑quarter revenue of $15.8 million, up 44% year‑over‑year, as defense, civil government and AI‑driven services accelerated. The company projected 2026 revenue between $75 million and $85 million, a more than 50% increase excluding its divested maritime business.
Cernan’s “Spacewalk From Hell” Highlights Gemini IX‑A Risks
🚀 60 years ago today, Gemini IX-A launched Cernan and Stafford for a three-day mission riddled with mishaps. Cernan performed America’s 2nd EVA which he called “the spacewalk from hell” as he became the first person to orbit...
Air Force Seeks New Gearboxes for CV-22 in ’27 Budget
The Air Force’s FY‑2027 budget earmarks $213 million for its 56‑aircraft CV‑22 Osprey fleet, focusing on new proprotor gearboxes made from an X‑53 Triple‑Melt steel alloy. The upgrade aims to remedy gearbox failures that caused a fatal 2023 crash in Japan...
Beyond Gravity Launches Advanced Propulsion Pointing Mechanism for LEO Constellations
Beyond Gravity unveiled the APPMAX2‑XS, a two‑axis electric propulsion pointing mechanism tailored for low‑Earth‑orbit small satellites. Weighing under seven kilograms and built from commercial‑off‑the‑shelf components, it promises sub‑six‑month lead times and precise thrust vectoring. The design reduces propellant waste, potentially...
NASA Readies X‑59 for First Supersonic Test, Aiming to Silence the Boom
NASA announced that its Lockheed‑Martin‑built X‑59 will attempt its first supersonic flight in early June, targeting speeds over 630 mph and a Mach 1.4 mission‑conditions run at 55,000 ft. The test is a key step toward demonstrating quiet supersonic travel and gathering public...
AST SpaceMobile Shares Surge 53% as It Gears up to Challenge Starlink
AST SpaceMobile’s shares jumped 53.5% in May, propelling the company to a $46 billion market cap as it prepares a satellite constellation that could deliver broadband directly to phones, positioning it as a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. The rally reflects...
Lockheed Martin UK Announces Major Workforce Expansion with Up to 2,000 New Space Jobs
Lockheed Martin UK unveiled a plan to create up to 2,000 highly skilled space jobs, backed by a £100 million (~$127 million) strategic investment. The rollout includes an £85 million (~$108 million) Assembly, Integration and Test hub at NETPark in County Durham and a...
Aerospace Update | May 2026
The U.S. Office of Space Commerce unveiled a draft framework that presumes approval for a range of novel commercial space activities, only rejecting proposals for a narrowly defined set of reasons. The proposal covers emerging operations such as in‑space manufacturing,...
Boeing Delivers First iMTOW 787 with Handover to United Airlines
United Airlines took delivery of the first increased‑MTOW (iMTOW) Boeing 787‑9 on May 12, marking the start of a new delivery stream for the higher‑performance version. The aircraft, tail‑registered N81105, is already in revenue service, primarily on United’s San Francisco‑London and San Francisco‑Singapore...
Rocket Goes Boom; so Do Moon Plans
On May 28, 2026 Blue Origin’s New Glenn heavy‑lift rocket exploded during a static‑fire test at Cape Canaveral, producing a dramatic mushroom cloud. The failure halts the company’s timeline for a lunar lander that was slated to support Amazon’s moon‑based logistics...
Qorvo® Simplifies RF Control with SOI Portfolio that Eliminates Negative Bias
Qorvo announced a new silicon‑on‑insulator (SOI) portfolio of RF switches and 6‑bit digital step attenuators targeting defense, aerospace and infrastructure markets. The portfolio spans frequencies up to 30 GHz and offers fast sub‑50 ns switching, high isolation and linearity while using TTL‑compatible...
Air France-KLM Flags Secure Summer Jet Fuel Supply
Air France‑KLM announced that jet‑fuel supplies are secure for the July‑August peak travel season, following earlier worries about disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz closure. CEO Benjamin Smith said indicators are positive at the airline’s French and Dutch hubs, allowing...
SpaceX Files S‑1 for $1.8 Trillion IPO, Targeting June 12 Listing
SpaceX submitted its Form S‑1 on May 20, outlining a June 12 Nasdaq debut that could value the company at roughly $1.8 trillion, making it the eighth‑largest U.S. firm by market cap. The filing has ignited a clash between bullish investors who cite...
Whisper Aero Details JetFoil Near-VTOL Concept as CEO Earns AIAA Honor
Whisper Aero unveiled its JetFoil propulsion concept, a distributed electric ducted‑fan system that enables short or near‑vertical takeoff without exposed rotors or tilting propulsors. The reveal took place at SAE International’s AeroTech 2026 conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. Co‑founder...
U.S. F-15E Pilot Survives Kuwait Friendly-Fire, Shot Down Again Over Iran
A U.S. Air Force F‑15E pilot who ejected after a Kuwaiti friendly‑fire incident in February was shot down again by an Iranian surface‑to‑air missile on April 3. The double downing, confirmed by Pentagon officials, underscores the heightened risk to advanced...
Researchers Study Impact Flashes to Detect Missile and Meteorite Composition
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists have demonstrated that the brief optical flash generated when a projectile strikes a target can be spectrally analyzed to reveal the projectile’s material composition. Using a high‑speed spectrometer and laser‑rangefinder, the team recorded over 50...
Resolve Optics Delivers Radiation-Resistant Lenses for LEO Satellites
Resolve Optics has delivered its first batch of ten flight‑ready radiation‑resistant lenses to a leading compact satellite camera core maker. The lenses repurpose a 6 mm nuclear‑sector design, using cerium‑doped glass to survive up to 1 MGy of radiation and temperature swings...
After Launch Pad Setback, Blue Origin Eyes New Glenn Return in 2026
Blue Origin suffered damage to the main support gantry at Cape Canaveral’s Launch Pad 36 during a recent launch attempt. CEO Dave Limp reported that the propellant tanks and nearby processing hangar emerged unscathed, and the gantry can be repaired...
NordSpace Installs Robotic AFP Systems, Progresses Build of Launch Vehicle Tanks and Primary Structures
Canadian launch‑vehicle developer NordSpace has installed large‑scale robotic Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) systems in its Advanced Manufacturing for Aerospace Lab, enabling the production of its first AFP‑fabricated pressure‑vessel components for the Tundra light‑lift rocket. The AFP equipment, supplied by Bespline’s...
Meet the Versatile Airbus Robot Automating Aircraft Seat Installation
Airbus Robotics has unveiled CabinMarker, a four‑kilogram mobile robot that automates aircraft seat positioning. The system slashes the task from 150 minutes to 30 minutes, boosting precision, reducing rework, and improving ergonomics. Certified in December 2025, the first two units will...
Recognize an Emerging Aerospace Leader
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has launched its 30/30 Program, recognizing 30 outstanding aerospace professionals in their 30s. Honorees are selected for groundbreaking contributions across the aerospace ecosystem, from propulsion to space systems. Nominations remain open until...
Venturi Space to Build €250M Lunar and Martian Rover Factory in Toulouse
Venturi Space, the Monaco‑based lunar‑mobility specialist, announced a $273 million (€250 million) investment to build a 16,000‑square‑metre technology centre in Toulouse. The expanded facility will replace the originally planned 10,000‑square‑metre plant and is expected to create nearly 200 skilled jobs. It will...
American Military Space Closed Around One Company in Seven Days
In a span of seven days the U.S. military space architecture collapsed around SpaceX. The Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract for a Space Data Network backbone and a $4.16 billion award for the Air Moving Target Indicator constellation, both...
NASA’s Mars Mission MAVEN Is Lost Forever
NASA announced that the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter, launched in 2013, is officially lost after contact was lost in early December 2025. Engineers observed unexpected rotation and a possible orbital shift, and subsequent attempts to reacquire the...
Blue Origin Should Be Able to Launch Again By End of 2026
Blue Origin’s launch complex 36 is back on track after gaining access to the pad and integration facility. The propellant farm, oxygen, liquid hydrogen and LNG tanks are all in good condition, and the booster “Never Tell Me The Odds”...
UK Spaceport Company To Enter Liquidation
Sutherland Spaceport Ltd, a subsidiary of the failed Orbex rocket venture, is entering liquidation with its assets slated for auction. The package includes a granted permit to build a launch facility near Tongue in the Scottish Highlands, though no substantial...
North American Appetite for European AEW&C Aircraft Bolstered as Canada Picks GlobalEye
Canada’s Defence Investment Agency announced Saab’s GlobalEye as the preferred supplier for its airborne early‑warning and control (AEW&C) fleet, effectively sidelining Boeing’s E‑7 Wedgetail and L3Harris offerings. The decision follows a recent U.S. reversal on its own AEW&C procurement, highlighting...
NASA Rethinks Commercial LEO Plans
NASA has abandoned its plan to launch a government‑owned core module that would serve as the anchor for future commercial space stations, a concept announced at the March "Ignition" event. Instead, the agency will revert to the original commercial low‑Earth‑orbit...
Norsk Titanium Signs New Cooperation & Research Agreement with Airbus
Norsk Titanium and Airbus have signed a Cooperation & Research Agreement to industrialise the Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) process for high‑criticality titanium parts. The Lower Frame Fitting for the A350, produced at Norsk’s Plattsburgh facility, became the largest FAA‑ and...
Frontier Flight Diverts to Miami After Passenger Tries to Open Exit Door
Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 was diverted to Miami on May 31 after a passenger tried to open an emergency exit door mid‑flight. The incident, which involved a former MMA fighter restraining the disruptive traveler, led to the passenger's arrest and...
Space Pioneer’s Tianlong 3 Fails on Debut, Underscoring Risks for China’s New Launch Firms
Space Pioneer, a seven‑year‑old Chinese launch startup, saw its medium‑class Tianlong 3 rocket fall short of orbit on its inaugural flight in early April. The setback comes amid a surge of new reusable launch vehicles in China and raises questions about...
64‑gram Origami Reflectarray Boosts CubeSat Links to 20 Mbps
From kilobits to 20 Mbps: See how a 64 gram origami reflectarray gives CubeSats narrow-beam, circularly polarized links in LEO. https://spectrum.ieee.org/cubesats-origami-antenna-foldable-reflectarray?share_id=9565835
Europe Is Rearming Together — Except in Space
Europe is rapidly adopting minilateral defence coalitions, but its space capabilities remain fragmented and heavily dependent on the United States. While the EU pushes projects such as the IRIS² secure‑communications constellation and the ODIN’s EYE early‑warning program, national counter‑space initiatives...
Blue Origin Can Learn From Falcon 9’s Static‑fire Disaster
A Falcon 9 rocket exploded on a launch pad as part of a static fire test in Florida ten years ago. What can Blue Origin learn from this? https://t.co/aglS3E2SY5
Muon Space Unveils Starship-Class Satellite Platform for Orbital Data Centers
Muon Space unveiled the Condor-Ultra, a Starship‑class satellite platform designed for orbital data‑center workloads. The baseline model delivers 20 kW of power and over 18 m² of payload area, with a scalable architecture up to 100 kW. A new San Jose factory will...
At a NATO Range in Latvia, Hits and Misses Mark Europe’s Counter-Drone Journey
At NATO’s new Sēlija range in Latvia, European startups demonstrated a variety of counter‑drone (C‑UAS) systems, highlighting both progress and the difficulty of reliably neutralizing hostile UAVs. Successful interceptions were recorded by Origin Robotics’ Blaze, Nordic Air Defence’s Kreuger 100, and...
Single-Crystal Blades: A Two-Company Lock on Surviving 1,000°C
Single‑crystal turbine blades—nickel‑superalloy airfoils that survive over 1,000 °C—are made by only two manufacturers: Howmet Aerospace and Precision Castparts. Howmet trades publicly (NYSE:HWM) while Precision Castparts is a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, making the supply chain a tight duopoly. Recent engine‑build ramps...
"That Guy's Insane": JetBlue Pilot Dodges Wayward Aircraft On Approach To Fort Lauderdale
A JetBlue Airbus A321neo on approach to Fort Lauderdale‑Hollywood International received a TCAS alert and swerved to avoid a VFR aircraft that turned toward it, prompting an ATC remark that the pilot was “insane.” The two planes maintained required separation and...
Blue Origin Seeks to Resume New Glenn Launches by Year’s End
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp says damage to Launch Complex 36 after the May 28 New Glenn explosion is less severe than feared, and the company expects to resume flights by year‑end. Key infrastructure such as liquid‑oxygen, hydrogen and methane tanks remain intact,...
Eagle-1 QKD Satellite Delayed to 2028 Amid Payload Issues
. @esa @defis_eu @SES_Satellites Eagle-1 quantum key distribution sat delayed again, to late 2027/early 2028, w/ payload challenges. Backers defend its value vs post-quantum cryptography. @SITAELspa @TesatSpacecom @DigitalEU. https://t.co/82SckWVfGH
Applied Aerospace & Defense Prices $20 IPO, Raising $650 Million
Applied Aerospace & Defense Inc. priced its initial public offering at $20 per share for 32.5 million shares, aiming to raise roughly $650 million before expenses. The offering, which includes a 30‑day underwriters’ option for an additional 4.875 million shares, is set to...
SpaceX Sets $135 Share Price to Raise $75 B, Targeting $1.75 T Valuation in Record‑Breaking IPO
Elon Musk’s SpaceX will price its initial public offering at $135 per share, aiming to raise $75 billion and achieve a $1.75 trillion market value. The fixed‑price approach, a rarity for mega‑cap listings, signals a bold bet on retail demand and Musk’s...
UK CAA Opens Applications for Hydrogen Aviation Research Programme
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has opened a new round of applications for its Hydrogen Challenge, a regulatory‑sandbox programme aimed at advancing hydrogen‑powered aviation technologies. The call targets research on hydrogen propulsion, airport infrastructure, advanced electric motors and AI‑driven safety...
Pivotal Joins the PennDOT eVTOL Integration Pilot Program
Pivotal announced its participation as an Original Equipment Manufacturer in the FAA‑selected eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) led by PennDOT. The initiative, called the Multistate Collaborative eIPP (MSCE), unites 18 states, three OEMs, four operators, six universities and more than...
GE Aerospace Completes Hybrid-Electric Test
GE Aerospace announced the successful completion of a full‑scale hybrid‑electric powertrain test, delivering 1 MW of power at its Peebles, Ohio facility. The ground test simulated taxi, take‑off, climb and cruise phases using flight‑worthy components, marking a readiness step toward flight...