Today's Aerospace Pulse
Updated 3h ago
Qantas slashes domestic flights as jet‑fuel prices trigger $800M blowout
Qantas announced a major reduction in its domestic schedule, citing soaring jet‑fuel costs amplified by the Middle East conflict. The airline said the price surge makes several routes financially unsustainable, leading to cuts across major city pairs and an estimated $800 million fuel loss.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Sierra Space raises $550M in private funding round
Two Day Delay for Blue Origin New Glenn
Blue Origin has pushed the third New Glenn launch from April 14 to April 16, citing that the rocket sections remain in the integration bay. The mission will carry AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7, a Block 2 communications satellite with a 2,400‑sq‑ft array and 120 Mbps peak data rates. This launch marks the first New Glenn flight in five months, accelerating the cadence after a ten‑month gap between the first two missions. The delay underscores the logistical challenges of scaling a heavy‑lift commercial launch service.
Worst‑case Sonic Booms Differ
FWIW these kinds of trajectories are worst case sonic booms, very different from what are created by supersonic jets cruising at ~60,000’.
What Company Developed The A-10 Warthog, And How Many Are Still Flying?
The A‑10 Thunderbolt II, developed by Fairchild in the early 1970s, entered service in 1976 and saw its final production model in 1984, with 713 aircraft built. Each plane cost roughly $18 million then, equivalent to about $70 million in 2026 dollars, and...
Far Away Objects
Artemis II has set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by a crewed spacecraft, reaching a peak of 406,771 km from Earth. The mission demonstrates NASA’s progress toward deep‑space crewed flights beyond low‑Earth orbit. By contrast, the most distant human‑made...
Xoople Raises $130 Million in Funding to Gather Optical Data Of Earth For AI
Xoople, a Spanish data‑infrastructure startup, closed a $130 million Series B round led by Nazca Capital, MCH Private Equity, CDTI, Buenavista Equity Partners and Endeavor Catalyst. The funding will finance the development of its own optical‑satellite constellation in partnership with U.S. defense...
A Commercial Breakthrough for Commercial Aerospace Suppliers
Aviation suppliers are shifting from relying on new aircraft programs to extracting growth from commercial execution on existing platforms. With few new single‑aisle launches expected before 2034, OEMs are prioritising capacity, price, and contract economics, prompting suppliers to win more...
Domestic Anti-Ship Missile Set to Be Assessed: Source
Taiwan’s Chunghsan Institute of Science and Technology is set to begin initial capability assessments of its domestically developed subsonic anti‑ship cruise missile later this year. The prototype can strike surface targets at 900‑1,000 km, making it the longest‑range indigenous missile in...
Chinese Airlines Add Thousands of Europe Flights, Shrugging Off Iran War
Chinese airlines are planning to add thousands of new flights to European destinations over the next six months, capitalizing on the disruption caused by the Iran war. With permission to overfly Russian airspace, they can offer shorter routes and lower...
How American Airlines Makes Money
American Airlines reported $54.63 billion in operating revenue for fiscal 2025, a modest 0.8% increase year‑over‑year, while net income slipped to $111 million from $846 million. Passenger services remain the engine of the business, delivering $49.64 billion—about 91% of total revenue—while cargo contributed $839 million...
The End of the VSAT Parts Bin
Tactical VSAT systems are moving from a modular “parts‑bin” approach to fully integrated terminal‑modem‑interface platforms. The shift consolidates antennas, ruggedized outdoor modems and a single browser‑based control GUI, slashing deployment time and reducing field failures. Parabolic dishes still dominate high‑throughput...
Old Saudi 787 Misidentified as Pakistan‑Iran Escort
This video has been circulating, but the aircraft shown is clearly a Saudi Boeing 787. Neither Pakistan nor Iran operate the B787. While reports about the Pakistan Air Force escorting an Iranian delegation may be accurate, the footage itself is...
Commission Okays Drone Regulation Reforms
Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) approved four draft notifications on April 7 to broaden drone spectrum use, raise technical standards, and tighten operational oversight. The new rules replace visual‑line‑of‑sight limits with provisions for beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) missions, logistics, surveillance and...
Denver Airport Swamped: Extra Laps and Diversions
Lots of extra laps in the sky if you’re flying into DEN this afternoon. The blue tracks are the ones coming here. Diversions are happening too.
How to Watch the Artemis 2 Splashdown
NASA’s Artemis 2 crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen—will conclude their historic lunar flyby with a splashdown near San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT on Friday. The Orion capsule will re‑enter at roughly 23,864 mph,...
April 9, 2026, Quick Space Links
The post curates a set of recent space‑industry highlights, from Stoke Space unveiling near‑complete photos of its Nova launch vehicle to Axiom marking four years since its inaugural private tourist flight to the ISS. It also shares a rehearsal image...
White House Budget Puts 54 NASA Science Missions on the Chopping Block
The White House’s FY 2027 budget proposal slashes NASA’s science program by 46%, reducing the agency’s total allocation to $18.8 billion. An analysis by The Planetary Society flags 54 major missions—including the Juno Jupiter probe, Venus explorers DAVINCI and VERITAS, and several...
Indoor Testing Facilities Available at the NASA Unmanned Autonomy Research Complex (NUARC)
NASA’s Unmanned Autonomy Research Complex (NUARC) now offers the WindShaper, a 9‑by‑7‑foot indoor fan array comprising 1,134 fans (567 wind pixels) that can produce wind speeds up to 16 m/s (36 mph) and rapid acceleration profiles. Researchers can program steady winds, gusts,...
American Airlines Increasing Bag Fees By $10-$50
American Airlines announced a hike in checked‑bag fees effective today, raising the first bag to $50, the second to $55, and the third to $200. The increases represent $10‑$50 jumps from previous rates. Passengers who prepay still receive a $5...
Israeli Missile Interceptors Have Dwindled to “Double Digits”: Trump Administration Official
A Trump administration source says Israel’s missile‑defense interceptors have fallen to double‑digit levels, forcing the IDF to prioritize which threats to engage. By March 24, Israel had expended roughly 122 of its 150 Arrow missiles and 22 of its 48 THAAD...
How the Artemis Astronauts Are Protected From Dangerous Space Radiation
NASA is tackling the heightened radiation threat to Artemis 2 astronauts with a layered strategy that combines physical shielding, an on‑board “storm shelter,” and advanced space‑weather forecasting. Orion’s hull incorporates hydrogen‑rich materials such as water and plastics, while crew can reconfigure...
Network Integration Remains a Challenge in Pushing Data to the Tactical Edge
Commercial space firms are moving past bandwidth bottlenecks, thanks to multiple LEO constellations, and are now focused on integrating fragmented data architectures at the tactical edge. Amazon Leo highlighted its use of standard network protocols to extend the AWS cloud...
SkyShare Selected to Operate FBO and Develop Much Needed Hangar Capacity at South Valley Regional Airport
SkyShare has been chosen as the Fixed Base Operator for South Valley Regional Airport (SVR) near Salt Lake City. The company will manage the full‑service FBO and oversee roughly 650,000 sq ft of hangar and office space. To address a four‑year‑long hangar...
Q&A: How Lebanon’s Aviation Chief Keeps Beirut Airport Open Amid Iran War Chaos
Amid the US‑Israeli war on Iran, Beirut’s Rafic Hariri Airport remains operational despite daily Israeli strikes near the city. Captain Mohammed Aziz, head of Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority, says Middle East Airlines (MEA) is the sole carrier still flying, operating...
NASA Team Finds 22‑Meter Fresh Crater on Moon, First New Impact Seen in Years
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) team has identified a fresh 22‑meter‑wide crater on the Moon, visible as a bright scar with striking ejecta rays. The discovery, made by comparing images taken before December 2009 and after December 2012, offers a rare...
As Astronauts Visit the Moon, NASA Insider Says Agency Is in Shambles Behind the Scenes
Four NASA astronauts completed a lunar flyby, delivering striking images of Earth and the Moon’s far side. At the same time, the agency is grappling with a proposed 47% cut to its science directorate under the Trump administration’s 2026 budget...
On Final Approach: How the NC Supreme Court Case Can Ground Long-Tail Aviation Liability
The North Carolina Supreme Court in Warren v. Cielo Ventures upheld a one‑year contractual limitations period, rejecting the idea that statutory UDTPA claims automatically override contract terms. The decision rests on freedom‑of‑contract principles and prior case law, stating that parties...
House Set To Vote on ALERT Act Next Week
The U.S. House will vote next week on the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act (H.R.7613) under suspension of the rules, requiring a two‑thirds majority. The bill expands on the earlier ROTOR Act by directing the FAA to...
Air Force May Miss Historic Budget Boom With Cautious Proposals, Expert Fears
The Pentagon’s FY2027 Air Force budget request adds roughly 22%—about $57 billion—to reach $317 billion, but many analysts say it falls short of the service’s long‑term modernization needs. Procurement plans call for only 62 new fighters, well below the 72‑jet annual target,...
New Wargame Assessed USAF Force Mixes for a China Fight
A new unclassified wargame organized by the AFA Mitchell Institute compared two future U.S. Air Force force mixes for a 2035 China‑Taiwan conflict. Team Doolittle reflects the current modernization path, while Team Mitchell models a more aggressive build‑up with additional...
SpaceX Starship 13 Should Be the First Orbital Flight
SpaceX’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses for Starship flights have been revised. Flight 12 retains a suborbital profile for both stages, with a launch window aimed at late April or early May. Flight 13’s license now authorizes a suborbital first stage followed...
Best Sources for News Related to Artemis Missions
Artemis mission followers should treat NASA’s official Artemis hub as the anchor for factual data while supplementing it with independent outlets and oversight reports. Reuters delivers timely coverage of budget, contract, and policy shifts, whereas GAO and the NASA Office...
Turkish Executive Airlines Has a New Chairman and a New CEO
Turkish Airlines announced a leadership overhaul, naming long‑time CFO Murat Şeker as chairman and internal commercial veteran Ahmet Olmuştur as chief executive officer. Şeker brings a track record of fiscal discipline and international financing experience, while Olmuştur adds deep expertise...
Copa Airlines Confirms Starlink Wifi Rollout Starting This Year
Copa Airlines announced it will equip its Boeing 737 fleet with Starlink satellite Wi‑Fi, becoming the first Latin American carrier to offer LEO‑based high‑speed connectivity. Installation begins this year with most flights expected to have service by October. The move...
Infleqtion and NASA Deploy Upgraded Quantum Hardware to International Space Station
Infleqtion, in partnership with NASA’s JPL, delivered an upgraded physics package to the International Space Station aboard the Northrop Grumman‑24 cargo flight. The new hardware enhances the Cold Atom Laboratory’s ability to generate record‑large atom clouds and reach ultracold temperatures in...
Space Force Awards Kratos $447 Million Contract for Missile Warning Tracking
The U.S. Space Force awarded Kratos Technology & Training Solutions a $447 million Other Transaction Agreement to build a ground‑management integration system for its missile‑warning satellites. The contract will initially support the 12‑satellite Epoch 1 constellation slated for launch in 2027‑28, followed...
Artemis II’s Success Sparks Excitement for Future Missions
I’m really happy to see all the love for Artemis II. I hope we can keep it going for the following missions. The fly by was great mission, but there is some spectacular stuff coming.
Orbital Mechanics Keep Artemis II Crew Far From Earth
Listening to Rob Navias on the Artemis II livestream, it amazes me every time he says that the crew is not yet half way back to Earth from the Moon. Even though they're landing this time tomorrow. "It's just...
Space Force Awards GPS Ground Contract Amid OCX Uncertainty
The U.S. Space Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $105 million contract to sustain and enhance its interim GPS ground system, known as the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP). The funding adds capabilities for launch, early‑orbit and disposal operations of the upcoming GPS...
Pride in Building My Own Supersonic Engine Stand
There's no grin like the "I'm building the supersonic engine stand I designed" grin. If you want to be in the next version of this pic, https://t.co/QkgtLNyUcw https://t.co/PFpRTufh3C
Cygnus Soars on Falcon 9 XL, Showcasing Massive Payload Capacity
Still wild to me seeing Cygnus flying on Falcon 9. The XL really packs that available payload area.
Travelers See Fewer Flights and Higher Airfares as Jet Fuel Prices Swing
Jet fuel prices have surged to about $209 per barrel, roughly double the level at the start of the war in the Middle East, prompting airlines to raise fares and ancillary fees. U.S. carriers such as Delta and United report...
Blue Checks Second-Stage Impacts Despite Unrelated Hardware
This is not hardware for the third New Glenn launch scheduled for later this month, but I'm sure Blue is checking for any effects on the second stage on that vehicle.
Ex‑Pentagon Official Explains LUCAS Drones' Rise to Indispensability
Former Pentagon official Michael C. Horowitz, who pushed for the creation of LUCAS drones, provides unique insights into how they became what CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper told me are an "indispensable" weapon of war. https://t.co/d8E8tnI1tv
Vancouver’s EarthDaily Analytics Secures Eight-Figure US Defence Contract
Vancouver‑based EarthDaily Analytics has landed an eight‑figure (roughly $10‑99 million) data‑subscription deal with an undisclosed U.S. defence and intelligence technology firm. The contract provides daily, AI‑ready satellite imagery covering tens of millions of square kilometres, sourced from the upcoming EarthDaily Constellation....
America's Shahed-136 Clone Emerges as Indispensable War Weapon
How America’s Shahed-136 Clone Became An “Indispensable” Weapon Of War Michael Horowitz, who pushed for the LUCAS drone program while at the Pentagon, offers unique insights into its genesis and future. https://t.co/DC5BtHgsGK
Blue Moon Mk1 Exits NASA Vacuum Chamber, No Issues Reported
Amit Kshatriya of NASA said Blue Moon Mk 1 has “just” come out of the vacuum chamber at Johnson Space Center and will soon be shipped back to Florida. No comment on how it performed but he did not indicate...
OneWeb UK Cuts Costs, Boosts Revenue, Secures Eutelsat Backing
.@EutelsatGroup OneWeb UK reports 44.5% rev boost in FY 2025; opex down 17%; staff costs down 33%; operating loss, at $456M, down sharply from 2024. Letter from Eutelsat guarantees financial backing through June 2027 if needed. @AirbusSpace @defis_eu.https://t.co/m1k5YGix9u https://t.co/iTbKQhShKk
Unexpected Celestial Glitch Becomes Artemis II’s Greatest Gift
It was an accident of celestial mechanics, but ended up becoming one of the "greatest gifts" of the Artemis II mission. https://t.co/Tg8VGfIpjl
Board Liquidated Teledesic Despite $4/Share Payout, Shaping NGSO Regulation
Wrong. A decision was made by the board In 2002 to liquidate Teledesic even though there was enough capital to pay out shareholders almost $4 a share. Hundreds of millions paid. No bankruptcy. Teledesic's win at WRC created regulatory category...
SpaceX Pioneers First Sovereign AI – Deep Dive
For a deep dive on our @SpaceX Is Building the World’s First Sovereign AI thesis, check out @dougclinton and I on Pressure Points:
