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
U.S. Marines Rescue F-16 Pilot After Six Harrowing Days Behind Enemy Lines – Scott O’Grady’s Survival Story
After Iran shot down a US F-15E Strike Eagle, the US launched a combat search and rescue (CSAR) operation that successfully extracted the pilot but left the weapons systems officer still missing. The rescue effort involved HC-130 command aircraft, HH-60 Black Hawks, and A-10 Warthog close-air-support, several of which came under Iranian fire. The article draws a parallel to Captain Scott O’Grady’s 1995 F-16 shoot-down and six-day evasion in Bosnia, underscoring the enduring risks of CSAR missions. Ongoing diplomatic pressure and reward offers from Iran heighten the mission’s complexity.
Airlines Keep Coach Cheap, Double First‑Class Prices
To my non-expert but very experienced eye, it looks like coach airfares have not gone up very much (compared to what I expected). However, first class airfares have doubled or more. Maybe the strategy is to avoid angering the...
Christina Koch Marvels at Earth From Orion Capsule
Christina Koch watching that beautiful blue marble we call home, through the window of the Orion capsule. I love this 🫶
Artemis II Performs Translunar Injection, Leaving Earth Orbit for Moon
NASA’s Artemis II mission executed a flawless five‑minute‑50‑second translunar injection burn, sending the Orion crew capsule out of Earth orbit and onto a free‑return trajectory toward the Moon. The maneuver, performed on April 2, 2026, puts four astronauts on the first deep‑space...
Victor Glover Sr. Praises Son Ahead of Historic Artemis II Moon Flight
Victor Glover Sr. told CNN he is "extremely proud" of his son, astronaut Victor Glover Jr., who will fly on NASA's Artemis II mission later this year. The interview highlights the personal side of a program that aims to return humans...
Manned Spaceflight: Expensive Self‑Expression Without Practical Value
My most contrarian opinion might now be that manned space light is a very expensive sort of self expression. There’s no scientific or economic or any other tangible value. We’re not going anywhere, there’s nowhere to go, and there’s nothing...
Video: Artemis 2 Flight Day 3 Highlights – Orion Crew, Including Canada’s Jeremy Hansen, Are Now Closer to the Moon...
On Flight Day 3 of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, the Orion crew crossed the halfway point, becoming closer to the Moon than to Earth. A planned outbound trajectory correction burn was evaluated and then canceled, preserving valuable propellant. The astronauts performed a...
China’s Tianlong‑3 Heavy‑Lift Rocket Fails on First Flight, Delaying Challenge to SpaceX
China’s privately developed Tianlong‑3 heavy‑lift launch vehicle suffered a flight anomaly on its inaugural launch on April 3, 2026, halting the rocket’s immediate entry into service. The setback pushes back the timeline for delivering satellites to China’s planned megaconstellation and underscores...
NASA's Artemis II Sends First Earth Images, iPhone 17 Pro Max Captures Moon Flyby
NASA’s Artemis II mission, launched on April 1, has beamed back its first images of Earth from the Orion spacecraft and revealed that the crew is using iPhone 17 Pro Max cameras alongside professional gear. The four‑astronaut crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—are now...
Bloomberg This Weekend: Downed F-15 Airman Missing (Podcast)
An U.S. F‑15E fighter was shot down over Iran, leaving one crew member missing as search‑and‑rescue efforts continue. A second U.S. combat plane reportedly crashed in the Persian Gulf the same day, underscoring escalating tensions. The incidents come as the...
NASA’s $30 Million Space Toilet Broke Down Hours Into Artemis Moon Mission
NASA’s Artemis II mission encountered a malfunction in its $30 million Universal Waste Management System just hours after launch when the urine‑collection fan jammed. Crew member Christina Koch reported a fault light, prompting Mission Control to guide the astronauts through a troubleshooting sequence....
Axiom Space Company Profile: Building the World’s First Commercial Space Station
Axiom Space, founded in 2016, is constructing the world’s first commercial space station while operating private crewed missions to the International Space Station. In February 2026 the company secured $350 million in equity and debt financing to speed hardware development and its...
ICE Outspends NASA, Prioritizes Enforcement Over Space Research
ICE has a bigger budget than NASA btw. They would rather put kids in cages, tear families apart, and ki** American citizens than fund climate change research, early weather detection, and inspire the next generation of moon explorers. NASA cuts announced...
Illuminated in Orion
On the third day of NASA’s Artemis II mission, the Orion crew began outfitting the capsule for a lunar flyby. Astronauts performed exercise routines, practiced medical emergency procedures, and validated the spacecraft’s deep‑space emergency communications system. The photo shows Christina Koch reading...
NASA Reveals Artemis II Menu: 189 Items, 58 Tortillas and 43 Cups of Coffee
NASA unveiled the Artemis II crew menu, featuring 189 distinct items, including 58 tortillas, 43 cups of coffee and a briefcase‑style food warmer. The selection reflects astronaut input, high‑energy needs and new capabilities for deep‑space nutrition.
Iran Missile Strike Hits Israeli Drone-Maker
Iran launched a ballistic missile that heavily damaged Aero‑Sentinel’s drone production facility in Petach Tikva, Israel. The company reported that critical knowledge, core assets, and key operational capabilities were preserved despite the strike. Aero‑Sentinel says it will restore production quickly and...
Artemis Captures Earth From Behind, Unlike Apollo.
Left to right: Original unedited Apollo 17 mission Blue Marble photo; Artemis II's Hello, World photo; Apollo 17 Blue Marble edited by NASA; and NASA's EPIC camera onboard NOAA's Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite on the 50th anniversary of the...
'The Navigation Systems on Board Aircraft and Drones Will Be Off Significantly': Why Aging Magnetic Data Poses a Growing Risk...
The U.S. National Geospatial‑Intelligence Agency’s MagQuest Challenge is driving a shift from aging magnetic‑field satellites to continuous, space‑based monitoring. Canadian firm SBQuantum recently launched its quantum diamond magnetometer into orbit, marking the first step toward real‑time magnetic data for the...
SpaceX Delays Next Starship Test Flight to May, Extending Timeline
SpaceX said the upcoming Starship test flight will now occur in May, a month later than planned. The shift pushes back the timeline for the vehicle’s orbital certification and highlights ongoing technical challenges.
Houston Cheers on Artemis II Moon Mission, Reclaiming Its Place as ‘Space City’
The Artemis II crewed lunar‑flyby mission launched from Florida on April 3, 2026, with flight control transferred to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Over a thousand spectators gathered at Space Center Houston to watch the live broadcast, turning the city’s historic space...
Artemis II Crew Passes Halfway Point to Moon, Shares New Photos of Earth
NASA’s Artemis II crewed Orion spacecraft passed the halfway mark on its lunar flyby, roughly 192,000 km from Earth, on Friday. The four astronauts streamed new high‑resolution photographs of Earth’s cloud‑covered surface, underscoring the mission’s scientific and public‑relations goals. Launched Wednesday, Artemis II...
How Do Satellites Determine Their Orbital Position?
Satellites determine their orbital position by fusing data from ground‑based radar, laser ranging, GNSS receivers, and onboard attitude sensors such as star trackers and IMUs. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Surveillance Network monitors over 27,000 objects, while laser stations achieve...
Ukraine Turns Into Live Testbed for Autonomous AI Drones, Raising Global Defense Stakes
Ukraine's defense firms, headed by NORDA Dynamics co‑founder Oleksandr Liannyi, have field‑tested partially autonomous drones that can locate and strike targets with human approval. The move accelerates the race toward fully autonomous weapons, prompting ethical and legal concerns worldwide.
ISRO Launches Mission MITRA in Ladakh to Study Astronaut Behaviour in Extreme Conditions
ISRO has launched Mission MITRA in Ladakh, positioning a test crew at roughly 3,500 metres to simulate space‑flight stressors such as hypoxia, low temperature and isolation. The five‑day analog study, running until April 9, is designed to capture physiological, psychological and operational...
The Full Engineering History of Cassini’s Grand Finale: How NASA Deliberately Crashed a $3.4 Billion Spacecraft Into Saturn and Why...
NASA’s Cassini mission, a $3.4 billion flagship, ended on Sept. 15, 2017 when the spacecraft was deliberately steered into Saturn’s atmosphere. A decade‑long debate among engineers, planetary‑protection officials, and policymakers weighed fuel limits, contamination risks to Enceladus and Titan, and the scientific...
SpaceX Secures $178.5 Million Space Force Contract for Missile‑Tracking Satellites
SpaceX received a $178.5 million task order from the U.S. Space Force to launch two missile‑tracking satellites for the Space Development Agency. The launches, slated for Q3 2027 on Falcon 9 rockets from Florida and California, expand SpaceX’s role in national‑security missions and...
NASA’s Artemis II Streams First Earth Photos as Crew Circles Moon
NASA’s Artemis II mission, launched on April 1 with four astronauts, released its first images of Earth captured from inside Orion, sparking massive online reaction and showcasing the use of iPhone 17 Pro Max, Nikon D5 and GoPro Hero 11 cameras on a deep‑space...
UK PM Condemns Drone Attack on Kuwaiti Oil Refinery, Discusses Deployment of Rapid Sentry Counter-Drone System with Crown Prince of...
The UK Prime Minister condemned a reckless overnight drone strike on a Kuwaiti oil refinery and reaffirmed Britain’s support for Kuwait and Gulf allies. He and Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah discussed the rapid deployment of the RAF Regiment’s Rapid Sentry...
P-51 Vs Me 262 and the Death of Luftwaffe Ace Walter Nowotny
The German Messerschmitt Me 262 became the first operational jet fighter in July 1944, but logistical constraints limited its combat impact. The U.S. P‑51 Mustang, equipped with the Packard‑Merlin engine and drop tanks, could escort bombers deep into Germany and even challenge...
Blue Origin Launches Planned for 2026
Blue Origin has outlined a busy 2026 launch calendar featuring four New Glenn missions. The lineup includes the NG‑3 flight for AST SpaceMobile, an Amazon low‑Earth‑orbit satellite deployment, a NASA‑backed lunar Artemis mission, and a second AST SpaceMobile flight. Additional entries...
Blue Origin New Glenn Targets April Launch of AST Space Mobile Satellite
AST SpaceMobile is set to launch its Block 2 “BlueBird” satellite on Blue Origin’s New Glenn NG‑3 mission between April 10‑14, 2026. The next‑generation satellite promises up to 120 Mbps peak data rates and 24/7 nationwide cellular broadband coverage across more than 5,600 cells. Block 2...
Has Israel Agreed to Provide GROUND Troops to Enter Iran/Kharg & Lay Down Lives Like US Troops? Update: Two Planes...
U.S. fighter jets, including an F‑15 and an A‑10, were shot down after entering Iranian airspace, prompting a rescue effort that saw two U.S. helicopters hit by Iranian fire. The incidents have sparked speculation about a broader ground invasion of...
Space Pioneer Tianlong-3 Rocket Fails Its Debut Launch Attempt
China’s private launch firm Space Pioneer saw its Tianlong‑3 rocket fail on its maiden flight on April 3, 2026, after an engine‑bay explosion at about 33 seconds. The partially reusable vehicle, designed to lift up to 20 metric tons to...
NSS Responds to OMB’s Proposed FY27 NASA Budget
The National Space Society (NSS) welcomed the OMB’s FY27 NASA budget proposal for its shift away from the Lunar Gateway and a planned phase‑out of the Space Launch System in favor of commercial heavy‑lift services. It also praised the repurposing...
Moonlit Earth Reveals Aurora, Venus, Zodiac Light
This amazing photo was taken by Commander Reid Wiseman on the Artemis II mission to the moon. What a lot of folks don't realize is that this side of Earth is illuminated by moonlight, not the sun. And you can see...
Artemis II Replay Highlights Launch Abort System Jettison
Going through some of NASA's Artemis II launch replays, and this one showing Launch Abort System jettison pops. https://t.co/sa9Byen6VT
The Full Map: What Iran Used, What We Knew, What a POW Changes, and What Comes Next
Iran shot down a U.S. Air Force F‑15E over its territory on April 3, 2026, contradicting President Raisi’s claim that Iran’s air defenses were completely destroyed. Analysis shows Iran employed a mix of legacy Soviet‑era surface‑to‑air missiles and newer Russian‑supplied...
RAT55 Dorsal Sensor Pod Revealed in Stunning Detail
Best views of RAT55 yet. Dorsal sensor pod (EO ball) seen in detail here. Also shot inside. I wonder if this is going to be ported in full to a contractor (it is currently operated by a contractor)
Sensofusion Acquires Atol, Launches Counter‑Drone Aircraft in Finland
We purchased the aircraft manufacturer Atol Aviation. Through the deal, Sensofusion is bringing new air-to-ground counter-drone systems to market, with the aircraft platforms to be manufactured at a former air force base in Finland. https://t.co/oUczLQ73u9
AST SpaceMobile Shares Jump 17.7% as Low‑Orbit Satellite Array Gains Investor Backing
AST SpaceMobile’s low‑orbit satellite array propelled its stock 17.7% higher this week, adding to a 27.5% year‑to‑date gain and a four‑fold increase over the past year. The surge reflects growing investor confidence in the company’s smartphone‑direct broadband model as the...
Italy Rations Jet Fuel, Cuts Short‑Haul Flights
As I highlighted last week, the jet fuel shortage crisis is already here. Jet fuel rationing in Italy has been declared — priority will be given to flights for medical purposes, government, and long haul. Airlines were told that short...
Air Travel Costs Have Dramatically Dropped over Decades
I love this slide from Air Lease showing how air travel has become affordable over time https://t.co/5CVdwVTxuu
Trump’s Bold Claims Ignored by Iran’s Actual Strike
Just a few weeks before a US aircraft was shot down in Iran, President Trump had this to say: “We literally have planes flying over Tehran... They [Iran] can't do a thing about it." TRUMP'S RHETORIC RARLEY MATCHES REALITY. https://t.co/UVqGJAzX2e
NASA Skips Prelaunch Briefings for Upcoming Resupply Flight
Unfortunately, NASA is not doing any prelaunch mission or science briefings for this, unlike most previous resupply flights.
Ukraine's $2,100 Sting Interceptor Secures 11 Middle East Contracts
Sorry boys. Ukraine’s Sting Interceptor. Battlefield proven against Iran’s Shahed drones. $2,100 per unit. First to market. Already under contract to 11 Middle East nations. 1,000 units a day Ukrainian production capacity. https://t.co/vlQahbzlE1
U.S. Military Repurposes Iranian Drone Tech, Not Silicon Valley
“…doesn’t come from one of America’s more than 400 venture-backed drone startups. And it isn’t the product of Silicon Valley ingenuity. Instead, the drone having its moment in the Middle East conflict was designed by the U.S. military itself, using...
Skipping Missile Approach Warning on $100M F‑15EX Is Foolish
Buying F-15EX and not springing for the missile approach warning system is absolutely the dumbest thing. $100M fighter, but let's save a few bucks on a key defensive advantage. You are not always going to get a radar spike from...
Artemis II Cubesats Tracked; ATENEA Likely Re
The Artemis II cubesats TACHELES, SWC-1 and K-RADCUBE have now been identified on Space-Track. ATENEA was not cataloged+was expected to have reentered at 1st perigee since it had no propulsion to raise its orbit. K-RAD may also have...
Space Force Confirms Meridian-M Launched Into Expected Molniya Orbit
Space Force orbit data show the Meridian-M satellite launched yesterday in a 996 x 39714 km x 62.8 deg 'Molniya' orbit as expected
U.S. Airpower Crumbles as Iran Defenses Resurge
Worst day for U.S. airpower in decades. Multiple aircraft down—and Iran’s defenses were supposed to be gone. That narrative just broke. This war isn’t under control. #Iran #Warfare #Geopolitics #AirPower