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
Quantum Frontline Industries Sends First Batch of Drones to Ukraine
Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI) has completed its first production run of Linza tactical drones and begun deliveries to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The drones are manufactured in Munich under a German‑Ukrainian “Build with Ukraine” co‑production model, marking the shift from setup to serial output. QFI says it will scale capacity and accelerate deliveries throughout 2026, aiming for a steady supply that matches operational demand.
Italy Signs Agreement with NASA to Cooperate on Moon Base
Italy and NASA have signed a Statement of Intent to jointly develop the U.S.-led lunar surface base, extending a 2022 cooperation that tasked Italy with designing a multi‑purpose habitation module. The agreement covers habitation, communications and scientific payloads, and guarantees...
Deutsche Aircraft Appoints Wolfgang Kuhl as Vice President Programs & Innovation
Deutsche Aircraft announced Wolfgang Kuhl as Vice President Programs & Innovation, bolstering leadership as the D328eco enters a critical development stage. Kuhl, who has directed the D328eco program since 2023, previously drove key design, industrialisation and re‑industrialisation milestones for the...
Ibrahim Canliel Steps up as CEO of Air Astana Group
Ibrahim Canliel has been appointed chief executive officer of Air Astana Group, moving up from his role as chief financial officer where he served since 2017. He brings more than 14 years of experience within the airline, having helped shape its strategic...
MAG Locks Jet Fuel Costs Amid 140% Price Surge
Now we know MAG has hedged their jet fuel between US$60-US$80 per barrel for 2026. With the price of jet fuel going up 140% one can only wonder what is happening to airlines that didn’t hedge their jet fuel. Do...
#49: Inside the Mind of a Space Engineer Turned VC (Feat. Koen Geurts, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF)
In this episode, Koen Geurts, a former aerospace engineer who worked on ESA's Rosetta/Philae mission and later managed satellite operations at Telespazio, discusses his transition to venture capital as Senior Investment Manager at Germany's Hightech Gründerfonds (HTGF). He shares behind‑the‑scenes...
Amazon in Talks to Buy Satellite Operator Globalstar
Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire satellite‑telecom firm Globalstar as it accelerates its low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) broadband project, Kuiper. Globalstar, valued at about $8.8 billion, saw its shares jump 24% to $85 after the news. The deal would give Amazon access...
Xer Technologies Validates 2.5-Hour Flight Endurance & 7 Kg Payload Capacity
Xer Technologies AG has validated its X8 multicopter platform, achieving 2.5 hours of continuous flight while carrying a 7 kg payload. This marks a more than two‑fold increase over the previous 3 kg capability, enabling heavier sensor suites on a single mission. The...
Vectoflow Showcases UAV Flow Measurement Solutions During Holetschek Visit
Vectoflow hosted CSU parliamentary leader Klaus Holetschek at its Gilching headquarters to showcase the iProbe Wing, a compact, lightweight flow‑measurement probe for UAVs and aerospace platforms. The company highlighted how additive manufacturing enables rapid prototyping and seamless transition to serial...
NASA’s Artemis 2 Has a Space Toilet Issue – And It’s More Important Than You Think
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, the first crewed lunar flight in over five decades, reported a malfunction in Orion’s Universal Waste Management System within hours of launch. A jammed fan has limited urine collection, though solid waste disposal remains operational. Engineers are...
Iran War Showcases Strength of South Korean Defense Sector
South Korean defense firm LIG Nex1’s Cheongung‑II air‑defense system proved its combat capability during Iran’s missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates, intercepting 29 of 30 missiles and drones. The system achieved this at a fraction of the cost of...
JetBlue Hikes Checked‑bag Fees up to $9 as Iran War Spikes Fuel Costs
JetBlue announced a $4‑$9 increase in checked‑bag fees, raising the first bag to $39 off‑peak and $49 during peak travel. The airline blamed soaring jet‑fuel prices—up more than 80% since the Iran war began—for the hike, a shift that forces...
Scoot Bookings Strong Despite Gulf Strife
Scoot, Singapore Airlines' low‑cost arm, reported a 15% rise in inbound passenger traffic to Thailand and a 10% increase in outbound demand for the fiscal year ending March 2026, despite the Gulf war prompting a temporary suspension of its Jeddah...
NOAA Launches Domestic Aviation Forecast System to Boost Turbulence and Icing Predictions
NOAA has deployed the Domestic Aviation Forecast System (DAFS), a satellite‑enhanced tool that updates turbulence and icing forecasts every hour on a 1.8‑mile grid. The system, built on the HRRR model and funded by the FAA, promises more precise weather...
RTX Leverages Pratt & Whitney Engine Advances to Boost Growth Outlook
Raytheon Technologies' RTX Corp is sharpening its long‑term growth outlook by capitalizing on Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan and F135 engine families. The segment’s mix of new‑engine sales and expanding aftermarket services is expected to lift RTX’s earnings and market...
Artemis II: Moon Flyby, Not Landing, Tests Systems
Few Artemis II Mission Details: Not on Moon: Astronauts will not land on the Moon during the Artemis II mission. I have no idea why some of the media saying that astronauts will step on lunar surface 🤔 Closest Approach: The...
Artemis II Successfully Launches for Historic Moon Mission
NASA launched Artemis II from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 p.m. ET, marking the first crewed flight of the Orion capsule and the second launch of the Space Launch System. The four‑person crew—NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen—will...
NASA's Artemis II Set for Wednesday Launch as Weather Looks Favorable
NASA is poised to launch Artemis II on Wednesday evening, with an 80% probability of favorable weather after resolving fuel‑leak issues. The four‑person crew will fly the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft on a nine‑day lunar flyby, the first crewed...
Despite Operational Challenges, German Airports Look to Future with Big Infrastructure Investments
German airports are committing to major infrastructure upgrades despite ongoing operational hurdles and rising cost pressures. Elevated taxes, charges and stricter environmental rules are forcing airlines to adopt more selective capacity and network strategies. Frankfurt and Munich airports are receiving...
Airplane Window Captures Artemis II’s Moon‑bound Rocket Trail
Wild shot from an airplane window during today’s Artemis II launch... that massive white trail climbing high while the plane cruises along. First humans heading around the Moon since the 1970s, and someone caught it mid-flight. Pretty cool reminder of...
Artemis II Highlights NASA Funding Shortfall and Trade‑offs
Today's Artemis II launch is super bittersweet. For NASA to have a super ambitious human space program they need to cut back their other programs or get more funding. NASA is not getting more funding. We discuss the new Artemis plan in...
Brilliant Moves: Coffee with United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says the carrier is operating like a five‑year‑old startup inside a century‑old airline, using the pandemic as a catalyst to reset culture and technology. He emphasizes radical transparency with passengers and a hiring model that...
Orion’s Floor‑mounted Toilet Outshines Apollo’s Design
For those that haven't seen the toilet for Orion, it is actually in the floor. Much better than Apollo, that's for damn sure.
Dreaming of a Moon‑and‑Mars 100th Birthday
Waiting for the success of the Artemis Mission to plan my 100th birthday on the Moon, and later on planet Mars https://t.co/f0Job9mCYx
Artemis II Blasts Off: Humans Are on Their Way Back to the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, sending a four‑person crew on a ten‑day lunar flyby—the first human mission beyond low‑Earth orbit in more than five decades. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialists Christina Koch and...
Starship 10 Soars on Historic August 2025 Launch
#ThrowbackThursdayday. August 26, 2025. Starship 10 from SpaceX Lifts Off from Starbase, Texas. #SpaceTech #History https://t.co/WHuolPwGxd
Humans Venture Farther From Earth than Ever Since 1972
Over the next week, humans will travel further from Earth than at any point since 1972... 54 years. We spent the intervening time building the internet, smartphones, and AI. The next 50 years up there will be truly wild.
Artemis 2 to Raise Perigee, Reaching 191×70,133 Km Orbit
Next major Artemis 2 milestone is a perigee-raise rocket burn carried out at 1130 UTC, near apogee. Resulting orbit will be around 191 x 70133 km.
SpaceX Could Secure Lunar Webcast, Rocket Free
At government rates, SpaceX could win the contract for a lunar webcast and throw in the rocket for free.
Seventeenth Rassvet‑3 Debris Cataloged, Upper Stage Still Unidentified
A 17th object has been cataloged associated with the Rassvet-3 launch. Not yet clear which of the 17 objects is the Soyuz upper stage.
Malaysia Airlines Posts 2025 Earnings Rise, Conflict Looms
Malaysia Airlines operator posts higher earnings in 2025 but Middle East conflict clouds outlook https://t.co/1VCi69LZGv
Orion Lifts Perigee, Now in 118×70134 Km Orbit
Orion has made the USS2 burn to raise its perigee. ICPS remains in a 11 x 70358 km orbit; Orion now in a 118 x 70134 km orbit.
Seeking NASA’s Orbital Trajectory Animations for Mission Visualization
Has NASA has put out something similar to this somewhere? I have been looking for some nice animations of the trajectory for ages and haven't come across anything. Really love this sort of thing as it shows scale and the...
Integrity Reaches 70,385 Km Apogee Before Moonward Burn
Integrity will reach a 70385 km apogee at about 1200 UTC Apr 2, before falling back to perigee where it will make the rocket burn to send it moonward; that burn due at about 2345 UTC Apr...
Integrity Tests Stationkeeping on Orion’s First Crewed Flight
Integrity is now using the ICPS upper stage as a target to practice stationkeeping and maneuvering, as part of this first crewed test flight of the Orion spaceship.
Watch History: First Crew Moon Mission in 53 Years
Now that is truly the way to watch the first crew mission to the moon in over 53 years.
Artemis 2 Launch
LAUNCH at 2235:12 UTC of SLS flight 2 with Artemis 2 from Kennedy Space Center. Artemis 2 has now manuevered to a -2 x 70385 km x 28.3deg orbit
Artemis II Sends First Woman, Black Astronaut, Canadian to Moon
Artemis II crew includes first woman, Black astronaut and Canadian ever flown to moon https://t.co/1vqNCYsJyp
NASA Launches First Crewed Lunar Mission in 50 Years
NASA launches four astronauts on world's first crewed lunar mission in half a century https://t.co/Vex2kJzSLV
Excitement for Moon Mission, but Space Weather Threatens
Thrilling to watch our compatriots leave this Earth on the way to the Moon. Beware space weather our spacefaring friends.
NASA Launches Four Astronauts on Lunar Return Mission
🚀🌕 🇺🇸 NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration has successfully launched a rocket with 4 astronauts back up to the Moon. Archive of the livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/Tf_UjBMIzNo?si=7taPgLngqlrhwFBi Godspeed to the humans hurtling into space Bearing “straight into the moonrise” Until they splash...
SpaceX IPO Could Valuate Firm Above $1.75T
Thoguhts? We discuss the historic announcement of SpaceX's IPO, which could raise 40 to 80 billion dollars and value the company at over 1.75 trillion. We explore how this would make SpaceX one of the top seven most valuable companies...
Drones Reveal AI-Driven, Accelerating Defense Innovation Cycle
As much attention is now being paid to Iran's drone capabilities, I still think it's lost on most market participants the broader implications of that capability. It's something I dissect in depth in my new report on "Defense Innovation" (https://t.co/rRtYxEUTE9)....
Moon Mission and War Collide: History Repeats
NASA sending astronauts back too the moon AND a widely unpopular war at the same time. Time is a flat circle
NASA Shifts Post-Launch Briefing to 8 Pm ET
They've moved the post-launch briefing up. Now at 8:00 pm ET, in just about 5 minutes. On NASA's YouTube channel: https://t.co/3y6Tm3VF4k
Orion Delivers Images While Crew Wrestles with Toilet
Good: getting some external images from Orion. Bad: the crew is troubleshooting the toilet. https://t.co/uDFwPVKIzC
Artemis Excitement Tempered by Concern over Canadian Exclusion
I love absolutely everything about the Artemis mission 🇺🇸🚀 Everything except not kicking the Canadian off.
USAF Discusses Secret RAT55 Radar 737’s Artemis Role
We got USAF to comment on RAT55!: Shadowy RAT55 Radar Test Bed 737 Has Begun “The Next Phase Of Its Career” Making a peculiar appearance supporting NASA's Artemis II launch is just the beginning of what comes next for the world's...
ICPS Completes Perigee Boost; Apogee Burn Imminent
The ICPS has completed a planned perigee raise burn. Another burn in about an hour will raise the apogee.
Apollo 8’s Earthrise Photo Ignites Environmental Awareness
NASA Apollo 8 spacecraft became the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon. The crew captured this iconic “Earthrise” photo that shows Earth rising over the horizon of the Moon, and is thought to have sparked the environmental movement. (12/24/1968) https://t.co/SEhC4SfiRR