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
Air Force Wants Nearly $1 Billion to Start Buying CCAs in 2027
The Air Force has asked for nearly $1 billion in FY 2027 to begin procurement of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). The budget request totals $996.5 million for procurement plus $150 million advance procurement and $1.37 billion for research and development, bringing the program’s FY 2027 request to $2.37 billion. The service must still choose between the YFQ‑42 from General Atomics and the YFQ‑44 from Anduril for “Increment 1,” with cost goals aiming at $25‑30 million per unit. If unit costs fall below $25 million, the 2027 funds could buy roughly 40 CCAs, marking the biggest single increase in the Air Force’s aircraft budget that year.
KC-135 Crews Receive Distinguished Flying Crosses for Combat Missions
More than a dozen airmen from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing were honored on March 31 for extraordinary combat refueling missions in contested Middle‑East airspace. Twelve KC‑135 pilots and boom operators received the Distinguished Flying Cross, with Staff Sgt. Gabrielle Stallings...
How the Crew of Artemis II Reacted to Seeing the Moon up Close
Artemis II’s crew performed a seven‑hour flyby of the Moon, becoming the farthest humans from Earth since the Apollo era. The spacecraft lost contact for about 45 minutes as it passed behind the lunar far side, giving the astronauts a rare...
Trump to the FAA: Build Me 'Flying Cars'
Former President Donald Trump has publicly urged the Federal Aviation Administration to accelerate development and certification of consumer‑grade flying cars, framing them as a national priority ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The call highlights the growing hype around urban...
U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX Fighter Mired in Delays and Disagreements Despite Fresh Funding
The U.S. Navy’s sixth‑generation F/A‑XX fighter program received a fresh infusion of nearly $1 billion from Congress in February, reviving hopes for a stealthy “quarterback” aircraft to operate alongside unmanned systems. The jet is intended to anchor the Navy’s Pacific strategy...
The US Surged over 150 Aircraft Into Iran for a High-Risk Rescue and Used Deception to Trick Iranian Forces
The United States launched a massive combat search‑and‑rescue operation after an F‑15E was shot down over Iran, deploying more than 150 aircraft to retrieve the downed crew. While the pilot was rescued quickly, the weapons systems officer evaded capture for...
Moog Highlights Growing Satellite Bus Capabilities with Full‑Scale METEOR Reveal at Space Symposium
Moog Inc. unveiled a full‑scale model of its METEOR satellite bus at the 41st Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, highlighting a portfolio of scalable spacecraft platforms. The METEOR demonstrator showcases adaptable payload interfaces, flexible power systems, and high‑delta‑V propulsion designed...
FOSSA Targets Japan’s Defense Market as Larger Smallsats Expand Capabilities
Spanish startup FOSSA Systems is entering Japan’s defense market through a distribution deal with conglomerate Kanematsu and opening a Tokyo office. The company has moved from sub‑kilogram picosatellites to larger 3U, 6U cubesats and is developing a 75‑150 kg microsatellite platform...
Artemis 2 Flight Day 6: Lunar Flyby Coverage Begins as Orion Prepares for the Far Side
Flight Day 6 of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission featured a live lunar‑flyby broadcast as the Orion crew, including CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, approached the Moon’s near side. At 1:57 p.m. EDT the crew set a new human‑distance record, surpassing Apollo 13’s 400,171 km (248,655 mi) mark. Real‑time...
Human Eyes Become Artemis II’s Most Valuable Instrument
In 2026, in the age of AI, NASA's most important scientific instrument on the Artemis II mission is four pairs of human eyes. Right now as we speak 4 humans are flying around the Moon. And their primary job is to...
The Moon Astronauts Just Broke the Record for the Farthest Any Human Has Ever Traveled From Earth
Five days after launch from Kennedy Space Center, NASA’s Artemis 2 crew broke the record for the farthest distance any human has traveled from Earth, reaching 252,752 miles. The record surpasses Apollo 13’s 248,655‑mile apex set in 1970. During the lunar flyby...
Orion Crew Breaks Record, Fulfilling Childhood Space Dreams
The 4 astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft just flew farther into space than any human has ever ventured before. As a little girl I used to stand in the driveway staring up at the dark night sky, dreaming of playing a...
Hartzell Expands Top Prop Program
Hartzell Propeller has broadened its Top Prop conversion lineup, adding over 150 new aluminum and carbon‑fiber propeller models for general aviation aircraft. The update introduces enhanced search filters linked to FAA and EASA certifications, making it easier for owners to match...
NASA's Moon Ship and Rocket Seem to Be Working Well, so What About the Landers?
NASA’s Artemis program is accelerating its Human Landing System development by removing the near‑rectilinear halo orbit requirement, which reduces the delta‑V and propellant needed for lunar landers. SpaceX and Blue Origin have submitted revised proposals—Starship will dock with Orion in...
Artemis II Sets New Lunar Distance Record, Witnesses Solar Eclipse
Artemis II crew just broke the distance record, surpassing Apollo 13’s 1970 mark. The lunar observation begins at about 2:45 p.m. EDT Orion passes behind the Moon and communications blackout begins at approximately 6:44 p.m. EDT Closest approach occurs at about 7:02 p.m....
Most People Misread Images; This Shows a Bird
I have gotten a lot of emails from people declaring one image in our post showing the the wreckage at the airstrip doesn't show a little bird and it's just another C-130 engine. Some of them are quite hostile. Anyways,...
NASA’s Artemis II Astronauts Break Apollo’s Distance Record
NASA’s Artemis II mission has sent four astronauts farther from Earth than any human before, reaching 248,655 miles (400,171 km). The record eclipses Apollo 13’s 1970 distance of about 205,000 miles, which was an accidental by‑product of an emergency lunar flyby. The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor...
Artemis Faces Crude Toilet Woes on Lunar Mission
Small tweet upgrade, re the toilet problems on the #Artemis: A crude loonar mission. 🚀🚽
Live GoPro Moon Footage From Crewed Spacecraft
It absolutely rules that we have live GoPro views of the Moon from a crewed spacecraft 250,000 miles from Earth https://t.co/Yrfcu21XNB
DOD Prioritizes Prototyping in $1.4B Research Contract Recompete
The Department of Defense is preparing a recompete for its Research, Development, Test, Evaluation, Engineering and Technical Services (RETS) contract, which carries a $1.4 billion ceiling for up to five‑and‑a‑half years. The new solicitation will emphasize prototyping and experimentation, seeking industry...
Artemis II Completes Historic Lunar Flyby—Watch Livestream
Congratulations to @NASA’s Artemis II on making history with their lunar flyby 🌕 You can continue watching the rest of their journey back to 🌎 by tuning into the official and creator-led livestreams on @youtube. https://t.co/topBlVXt4c
NASA Official Confirms Lunar Landers Progress Amid SLS, Orion Success
With SLS and Orion flying great, I checked in with a senior NASA official on how the lunar landers are coming along. https://t.co/qbbFfY0kA8
Watch Live—NASA’s Artemis II’s Moon Flyby Is Underway
NASA’s Artemis II crew completed a historic lunar flyby, becoming the first humans to travel beyond the Moon in over five decades. The Orion spacecraft broke the Apollo 13 distance record, reaching about 4,070 miles from the lunar surface and spending five...
NASA Crew Sets Record, Travels Farther than Any Human
A NASA crew of four astronauts have now traveled farther in space than anyone in history as the group’s spacecraft hurtles toward the moon for a historic flyby https://t.co/e9nfMCPUR9
Four Astronauts Become Humanity's Most Distant Explorers, Emotional
Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy have become the most distant explorers in human history. Wow. I'm not sure I was ready for the emotional weight of that moment.
Autonomous Air Taxi Certification Emerges as New Regulatory Frontier
The FAA is tightening certification requirements for vertical‑takeoff‑and‑landing (VTOL) air‑taxi platforms, demanding a rigorous testing regime for developers such as Archer, Joby and Beta. Boeing‑spun Wisk Aero is pushing the envelope with its Generation 6 aircraft, which is designed to operate...
Artemis II Crew Surpasses Apollo 13, Sets Human Distance Record
Apollo 13 record broken. Artemis II crew now further out in space than any other humans in history.
Artemis II Carries Wright Brothers’ Fabric, Space History Soars
This is extremely awesome. I also understand that Artemis II is also carrying a small swatch of fabric from the Wright Brothers’ flyer. This is MEGA awesome.
Air Canada Adds Sun Destinations and New Nonstop Flights to Tenerife
Air Canada unveiled its 2026‑27 winter schedule, adding nonstop service from Toronto and Montreal to Tenerife—the first direct North America‑Canary Islands link. The routes will use Airbus A321XLR aircraft with 14 lie‑flat Signature Class seats and 168 economy seats, launching...
Shot‑down F‑15E Pilots Identified as Dude 44
🚨 Callsign of shotdown F15E was "Dude 44" -"Dude 44 Alpha" was recovered first; frontseater. -"Dude 44 Bravo" was the second pilot; backseater. https://t.co/IV4DKMk9BU
Artemis II Crew Set to Break Apollo 13 Distance Record
10 minutes to when the Artemis II crew passes the Apollo 13 record for furthest distance from Earth for astronauts. Watch on NASA's YouTube at: https://t.co/7JM1ti9vAq
On Artemis and Starshot
Artemis’ recent launch reignited the excitement of returning humans to deep space, showcasing NASA’s powerful yet expensive Space Launch System (SLS). The mission underscores the urgency of developing more affordable, reusable launch solutions for a sustained lunar presence and eventual...
Lunar Flyby Footage Falls Short: Here’s Why
You're probably going to be disappointed with the video imagery of the lunar flyby. Here's why: https://t.co/20YF81w0uA
Orion Completes Small Mid-Course-Correction Engine Burn as It Prepares to Swing Around Behind the Moon
NASA’s Orion capsule completed a 17.5‑second mid‑course correction on April 5, 2026, fine‑tuning its trajectory for the Artemis II lunar fly‑by scheduled for the evening of April 6. The crew – astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA’s Jeremy Hansen –...
New ROS Guide Adds Outpost Thermal-Control System
Expanding our exclusive technical guide to the ROS complex with the introduction to the outpost's thermal-control system (subscription). CONTEXT: Home page for the ROS project: https://t.co/81bSOWHp9D https://t.co/upduOMWNYd
Japan’s Lunar Lander Startup Ispace Wins Contract with Korean Rover Startup
Japanese lunar‑lander startup Ispace announced a contract with South‑Korean rover company Unmanned Exploration Laboratory (UEL) to fly its two‑wheeled rover on Ispace’s upcoming ULTRA lander. The payload will ride on Mission 3, slated for launch in 2028, representing the first Korean...
Artemis II Mission Day 5 Recap April 5
On Flight Day 5, Artemis II astronauts completed the first deep‑space test of Orion’s Crew Survival System emergency suits, performed a 17.5‑second trajectory correction burn, and entered the Moon’s sphere of influence. The crew also photographed the entire Orientale Basin, marking humanity’s...
McKinsey Analysts Forecast $1.8 Trillion Global Space Economy by 2035
Analysts at McKinsey & Company estimate the global space economy will grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035, driven by satellite transport, broadband connectivity and tourism. The projection fuels optimism for publicly traded launch firms such as Rocket Lab, whose Q4 revenue...
Fast and Furious: Aerospace Firms Reduce Hypersonic Design to Months, Not Years
Aerospace firms Specter Aerospace and nTop announced a new workflow that reduces hypersonic aircraft design from months to days while maintaining high fidelity. Their implicit geometry modeling eliminates traditional CAD bottlenecks, enabling rapid conceptual modeling, automated analysis, and design‑space optimization....
Japanese Rocket Startup Interstellar Gets Another $47 Million Grant From Japan
Interstellar, a Japanese rocket startup, received an additional $47 million grant from the government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, bringing its total public funding to roughly $99 million (¥15.4 bn). Combined with nearly $130 million in private capital, the company has moved into...
Artemis II Crew Delivers Stunning New Image of the Moon's Hidden Far Side
On day five of its ten‑day lunar flyby, NASA’s Artemis II crew captured the first ever human‑eye view of the Moon’s far side and posted the image online. The four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—were 18,830 miles from the Moon...
Artemis II Crew Nears Moon as Spacecraft Enters Lunar Orbit Phase
NASA launched the Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, sending a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft with four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center. Early Monday, the crew entered the lunar sphere of influence, where the Moon’s gravity overtakes Earth’s,...
How to Watch NASA’s Artemis II Flying Past the Moon Live
NASA’s Artemis II mission on April 6, 2026 performed a historic lunar flyby, marking the first crewed deep‑space flight since 1972. Four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule passed within roughly 4,070 mi of the Moon’s surface, capturing images and conducting scientific observations. NASA streamed...
AECC Tests Megawatt Hydrogen Turboprop Engine
China's Aviation Engine Corporation of China (AECC) successfully completed the maiden flight of its AEP100 megawatt hydrogen‑fueled turboprop engine. The test used a 7.5‑ton unmanned cargo aircraft that took off from Zhuzhou, Hunan, and flew 36 km at 220 kph while reaching...
NAVAIR Seeks Industry Input on CV-22 Osprey JTT-NG Integration
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has issued a sources‑sought notice to find industry partners capable of integrating the Joint Tactical Terminal – Next Generation (JTT‑NG) onto the CV‑22 Osprey. The effort is driven by the V‑22 Joint Program Office...
Night Sky Network Celebrates Artemis II
On April 6, 2026 the Artemis II crew became the first humans to orbit the Moon’s far side, traveling roughly 4,000 miles above the lunar surface. The historic maneuver was streamed live on NASA’s YouTube channel and the new NASA+ platform. NASA’s Night Sky...
Artemis II Moon Return Sparks Hope for Humanity
Something special is happening in space right now As Artemis II astronauts reach the Moon for the first time in 54 years, it gives humanity something we've been missing for decades: hope that we can become something great. https://t.co/wdFUF4tfOB
The Soul of Aerospace Power: It’s the People, Not the Machines
Operation Epic Fury demonstrated the United States Air Force and Space Force’s massive sortie tempo, with over 13,000 combat missions and 12,300 targets struck by April 1. The conflict’s first U.S. aircraft loss occurred on April 3 when an F‑15E was downed...
Artemis II: NASA’s Orion Heads Home After a Historic Loop Around the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft completed a historic five‑day lunar flyby, looping around the Moon’s far side on April 6. The crew witnessed the first human‑viewed total solar eclipse from lunar orbit and captured unprecedented visual detail of the far‑side terrain. A...
So, While You Still Have CSAR in Your Scan
An F-15E Strike Eagle crew was rescued after a crash in Iran, showcasing an extensive, all‑hands CSAR effort. The author argues that while land‑based assets succeeded this time, the U.S. Navy’s recent loss of its dedicated rotary‑wing CSAR unit, HSC‑85,...