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
Contrails Form Even when Airplanes Produce Less Soot
A German Aerospace Center study found that contrails still form even when aircraft engines cut soot emissions by a thousand‑fold using lean‑burn technology. The research identified liquid sulfate aerosols and tiny engine‑oil droplets as alternative ice‑nucleating particles. While the new engines represent a major air‑quality win, they do not automatically eliminate contrail‑related climate forcing. The findings suggest that broader emission controls are needed beyond soot reduction.
Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom
Virgil "Gus" Grissom, born April 3, 1926, became NASA’s second astronaut to reach space on the 15‑minute Mercury‑Redstone 4 mission aboard Liberty Bell 7 in July 1961. The flight ended safely, but the capsule’s hatch blew prematurely, flooding the spacecraft and forcing...
Automation Protects Human Judgment, Not Replaces It
One of the sharpest thoughts I’ve heard about AI did not come from a founder, consultant, or conference speaker. It came from a Ryanair pilot I train BJJ with. He said that in aviation, automation is not there to replace human...
Humans Return Beyond LEO After 50 Years
Getting a ringside seat to space history - after over half a century humans venture out beyond LEO again #Artemis #NASA #spaceflight #ArtemisII https://t.co/RMT4s1iZSC https://t.co/7NGliTWrD1
The Downlink Deficit: The Pentagon’s Optical Mesh Network and the Terrestrial Bottleneck
The Pentagon’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture relies on an optical inter‑satellite mesh, but only about 10 % of the required optical ground stations exist today. Roughly 200‑500 diverse stations will be needed by 2030 to achieve the 99.9 % availability demanded for...
Artemis II Captures Earth’s Auroras and Zodiacal Light
Breathtaking view of Earth taken by Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman after the TLI burn yesterday. The NASA post (link below) explains the two auroras and the zodiacal light in the image. https://t.co/jSToocbGT1 https://t.co/7lbb8pErhF
Planetary Society Warns FY2027 NASA Science Cuts
Statement from The Planetary Society about the new FY2027 proposed budget cuts to NASA's science programs: https://t.co/qDYyJ2dGOB
Azerbaijan and Turkey Sign Defense Industry MoU Amid Regional Tensions
Azerbaijan and Turkey have signed a memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation in the defense sector, a move that underscores expanding security ties between the two allies as regional tensions persist. Details of the agreement were not disclosed, but officials...
Russia Launches Classified Military Payload; China Has a Launch Failure
China's private launch firm Space Pioneer saw its Tianlong‑3 rocket abort two minutes after liftoff, after an apparent thrust imbalance at roughly 33 seconds. In contrast, Russia successfully lofted a classified payload on a Soyuz‑2 from Plesetsk, likely a military...
Candace Johnson, HoF '26, and the 2025 20 Under 35 Cohort Have More in Common Than You'd Think
In this episode of Orbited, Hall of Fame inductee Candace Johnson recounts how she built Europe’s first private satellite operator, SES, at age 30, launching Astra in 1988 and later pioneering ventures like SCS Global, L Teleport Europe, and Iridium....
Corsia Prices Drop After Koko's Collapse
Prices on Corsia, a marketplace for airlines, have fallen in the months following Koko’s collapse. https://t.co/LiAW6OyMX7
Russia Tested Its Own Drone Line Initiative Last Year
.@kriegsforscherD and I have a new post about Russia's experiment with its own Drone Line initiative and employment of UAS from last year. https://t.co/XCslVa4HzU
Wemech BladeScanner Concept Shifts Composites NDT Toward Standardized, Data-Supported Workflows
Wemech S.r.l., the Italian robotics and engineering spin‑off of Meccanica Besnatese, has kicked off an experimental program to apply acoustic analysis for nondestructive testing of composite airfoil components. The initiative leverages the BladeScanner platform, protected by U.S. Patent 12,391,407 and...
RDW Approves PAL-V as Certified Automotive Manufacturer
The Dutch vehicle authority RDW granted PAL‑V an Initial Assessment, officially recognizing it as a certified automotive manufacturer and clearing the way for type‑certified, road‑legal production of its FlyDrive flying‑car platform. The approval satisfies European Conformity of Production requirements and...
FAA Issues Certification Conditions for ZeroAvia’s Hydrogen‑Electric Powertrain
ZeroAvia has this week celebrated a “major step” towards certification of its ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain, after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration published special conditions to certify the system’s electric engine component. https://t.co/rtB9kLHKnG #GreenWing
Amazon Responds to SpaceX’s FCC Complaint About Its Last Leo Satellite Launch
Amazon responded to SpaceX’s FCC complaint that its latest LEO launch placed 32 satellites 50 km above the licensed altitude, forcing SpaceX to maneuver 30 Starlink satellites. Amazon argues the orbit complies with its license and blames SpaceX’s recent lowering of...
Gravitics Receives Strategic Funding Increase From SpaceWERX
Gravitics secured a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract from SpaceWERX, the U.S. Space Force’s innovation arm, worth up to $60 million. The award will fund a flight‑demonstration of Gravitics’ Orbital Carrier on a low‑Earth‑orbit rideshare, alongside a Viper orbital transfer vehicle...
Iran Claims Hit on US Rescue Helicopter Searching for Pilot
Iran says it struck a US helicopter on search & rescue mission for downed F-15 fighter jet pilot.
Three Artemis‑II Cubesats Show Successful Perigee‑Raise Burn
Three of the four Artemis-II cubesats have now been cataloged; orbits are 149 x 70247 km, 492 x 70228 km, and 61 x 70276 km. Suggests at least one made a successful perigee raising burn, but waiting for more data...
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) Advances AI and Satellite Expansion Plans
Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire satellite telecom group Globalstar, a move intended to accelerate its Project Kuiper broadband constellation. Kuiper currently operates 180 satellites and targets a 3,200‑satellite network to challenge SpaceX’s Starlink, which runs over 9,500 satellites....
US Fighter Jet Downed over Iran; Rescue Underway
U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran, search and rescue operations underway for crew — Axios
Sheveluch Eruption Forces Temporary Asia‑North America Freight Diversions
The Sheveluch Volcano in Kamchatka Peninsula causing flight diversions on Asia to North America air freight routes. Expected to be temporary, mostly just sharing bc I like volcanos. https://t.co/06aAWpuJCr
Around the Commercial Drone Industry: Solid-State Drone, Thermal Imaging, Healthcare Drone Corridor
Researchers at Rutgers University have demonstrated a solid‑state drone that flies using piezoelectric actuators, eliminating traditional motors, gears, and linkages. A recent review of 38 studies confirms thermal‑imaging drones outperform ground surveys for detecting threatened rainforest species, especially arboreal mammals....
From 1966 to Artemis II: Earth’s View Evolves
On the left is the first ever full-disk image of Earth captured in 1966, on the right is the most recent photo taken by the Artemis II crew Incredible. https://t.co/codJxEg6NB
F‑117 Downed, War Unchanged; Rescue Crew Now Priority
Serbia shot down an F-117 in 1999. That didn’t change the outcome of Allied Force. I hope the pilot and WSO are alive and can be extracted soon. Beyond that, it’s one aircraft.
Canada's Cargojet to Divest Minority Stake in US' 21 Air
Cargojet Airways announced it will divest its 25% minority stake in U.S. carrier 21 Air to undisclosed buyers. The move is part of a strategic shift to concentrate on its domestic network, ACMI and charter services. The original investment, made in...
Embraer Reports 47% Jump in First-Quarter Aircraft Deliveries
Embraer announced that it handed over 44 aircraft in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 47% year‑on‑year increase. The growth spanned its commercial, executive and defense divisions, reflecting broader market recovery. The company disclosed the figures in a securities...
Trump FY2027 NASA Budget Supports Moon Missions, But Cuts Everything Else
The Trump administration’s FY2027 budget request keeps NASA’s total funding at $18.8 billion, a 23 percent cut that mirrors the FY2026 proposal. It adds $731 million for Artemis lunar landings and $175 million for a robotic lunar base camp, while slashing the science portfolio...
Elon Musk Reveals Date of SpaceX Starship V3’s Maiden Voyage
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that the upgraded Starship v3 will attempt its first flight, designated IFT‑12, within the next four to six weeks, targeting early‑mid May 2026. The v3 configuration features a taller Super Heavy booster, higher propellant capacity...
Ethiopian Airlines Adopts New Strategy to Save Fuel on Regional Traffic Surge
Ethiopian Airlines is expanding its use of technical stops on long‑haul routes to conserve fuel amid tightening aviation fuel supplies in East Africa. By breaking flights into lower‑altitude segments, the carrier can depart Addis Ababa with maximum payload, shifting most...
Senate Democrat Pushes Risky Shoe‑removal Policy, Calling It Security Theater
Key Senate Aviation Democrat Demands TSA Bring Back Shoe Removal — That's Dangerous Security Theater - View from the Wing https://t.co/K6COZq7HE3
NATO Invokes Article 5, Launches Operation Noble Eagle
On September 12th the North Atlantic Council declared that the attacks satisfied Article 5 and established Operation Noble Eagle to coordinate support including NATO AWACS and Canadian CF-18s for air policing. ISAF was established as an Article 4 mission.
One of Ours Is Down in Iran. Here’s What That Really Means.
Iranian state media released photos on April 3, 2026 showing wreckage identified as a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, marking the first U.S. manned combat aircraft loss over Iran since Operation...
Pentagon Budget Seeks 85 Lockheed F-35s in Boost to Program
The Pentagon’s FY 2027 budget request calls for 85 Lockheed Martin F‑35 jets, up from 47 in the prior proposal. The allocation includes 38 F‑35A aircraft for the Air Force, 10 F‑35B short‑takeoff/vertical‑landing models for the Marine Corps, and 37 carrier‑capable F‑35C...
Southwest Passenger Says Airline Canceled Her Ticket After Agent Said She Was Too Big For One Seat, Demanded $450
Southwest Airlines canceled a Nashville passenger's ticket after a gate agent demanded she purchase a second seat under the carrier’s new "customer of size" policy, which costs roughly $450. The policy, effective Jan. 27, 2026, requires passengers who cannot fit...
Anyone Watch the Artemis II Launch?
NASA launched Artemis II on April 1, 2026, sending a four‑person crew on a free‑return trajectory around the Moon—the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. The launch succeeded after two earlier attempts this year were aborted due to a propellant...
US Stealing Iranian Drones Exposes Domestic Tech Lag
This article makes it seem like a win that the US stole Iranian drone technology. But how damning is it that we were in a position where their tech was ahead of us? That we had to steal? https://t.co/xWqi7w0np8
Soyuz-2-1a Launch From Plesetsk Carries Meridian Satellite
LAUNCH at 0628 UTC of a Soyuz-class rocket from Plesetsk. Suspected to be a Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat with a Meridian military comms satellite, but we'll have to wait for Space Force tracking to confirm that.
GE Carbon Fiber Composites Are Ready for the GEX9 Aeroengine
GE Aerospace announced that its next‑generation GE9X engine, destined for Boeing's 777X, is ready to move from testing to operational service. The engine relies on carbon‑fiber composite fan blades and a composite containment case, technologies refined over 300 million flight hours...
2 U.S. Aircraft Downed as Iran War Escalates; Both Pilots Rescued, One Crew Member Missing, Officials Say
Two U.S. combat aircraft – an F‑15E fighter and an A‑10 attack jet – were shot down over Iran, prompting a rescue that saved one pilot while a crew member remains missing. Iran credited a newly deployed air‑defense system for...
White House Proposes 23% NASA Budget Cut for FY27
The White House is proposing $18.8 billion for NASA in FY27, a 23% cut to NASA's 2026 enacted funding. Science, ISS, and education major targets of the proposed cuts. https://t.co/4PxZxpplUh
JJG Aero Targets $100 Million Revenue in 5 Years, Focuses on Deepening Relationships with Existing Clients
Bengaluru‑based JJG Aero announced a goal to reach $100 million in revenue within five years, targeting a mid‑30% compound annual growth rate. The plan is backed by a $30 million Series B round led by Norwest Venture Partners, which will finance a new...
Srinagar Airport Curbs Hours Amid Upgrade, Tourism Stakeholders Flag Concerns
Srinagar International Airport will operate only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. between April 6 and July 31 as the Indian Air Force upgrades its runway. The curtailment compresses the usual 60 daily flight movements into a nine‑hour window, forcing airlines to reshuffle schedules....
Domestic Airfares Jump 44% Despite Govt Relief Measures
Domestic airline tickets in India jumped 44% year‑on‑year to about ₹8,450 (≈$102) in April 2026, up from ₹5,850 (≈$71) a year earlier, according to Cleartrip data. International fares rose a similar 43%, reaching ₹74,500 (≈$898). The surge persisted despite the...
Hello, World
NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman captured the first downlinked images from the Artemis II crew after the spacecraft’s translunar injection burn. The photograph shows Earth framed by two auroras and a faint zodiacal light, highlighting Orion’s window view capabilities. This visual milestone...
United Cuts Polaris Perks on Cheapest Business Fares
United Just Nerfed Polaris Business Class — Cheapest Fares Restrict Lounge Access, Seat Selection And Changes - View from the Wing https://t.co/uh6Bql5K9x
Week in Images: 30 March - 03 April 2026
The latest "Week in images" roundup showcases a diverse set of space‑related photographs, from a versatile silicon chip to the final glimpse of ESA’s Smile spacecraft. Highlights include the Artemis II launch with Orion and the European Service Module, a rare...
Artemis II Completes Key Engine Burn as Four‑astronaut Crew Heads Toward Lunar Flyby
NASA’s Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts, performed a crucial engine burn on Day 2 to set a trajectory toward the Moon. The crew is now adjusting to life aboard Orion, using a lightweight exercise device and confirming the AVATAR payload ahead...
Experiencing a Moon‑bound Rocket Launch Live
From the Earth to the Moon - what's it like to watch a rocket launch? #Artemis #NASA #ArtemisII https://t.co/ixlbGUQBk0 https://t.co/d7yEw0ZMRo
Another Russian Combat Plane Has Crashed
A Russian Su‑30 fighter crashed during a training flight over Crimea on April 3, with the crew safely ejecting and later rescued. The loss marks the 19th Su‑30 lost since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and contributes to an estimated 10% shrinkage...