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
Amazon in Talks to Buy $9bn Satellite Group Globalstar in Bid to Rival Musk’s Starlink
Amazon is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire Globalstar, a satellite communications firm valued at roughly $9 billion. The move would give Amazon a low‑Earth‑orbit constellation capable of delivering broadband services worldwide. Analysts see the deal as Amazon’s bid to build a direct competitor to Elon Musk’s Starlink network. The acquisition still requires regulatory clearance and shareholder approval before it can close.
NASA Countdown Begins: T‑9 to Historic Moon Mission
This is happening T-9 and counting down. It is a gooooooo nasa @youtube @youtubecreators #nasa #goingtothemoom #space #stem #makinghistory
Collecting Rare Space Passes for Artemis II Launch
Excited to watch the launch of the Artemis II as a space collector. Here are three of my 1 of 1s. 1. Buzz Aldrin’s pass to attend any AL game. 2. Pass to get into the room to fire up Apollo 11. 3....
Airline Shuts Down in Bankruptcy, Runs Last Flight
Estonian budget carrier Nordica and its charter arm Xfly were declared bankrupt after accumulating more than €85 million (about $92 million) in debt. The airline’s final commercial flight departed Tallinn on March 31, delivering its last Bombardier CRJ900NG to a buyer, marking the...
Artemis II Launch Paused to Verify Safety System
NASA/Artemis update as of 5pmET: Although the countdown to today’s Artemis II launch is continuing to progress, the Eastern Range has identified an issue that they are currently working to resolve related to their communication with the flight termination system. The...
AV to Deliver ISR Services to U.S. Navy with JUMP 20-X
AeroVironment (AV) has been chosen by the U.S. Navy to provide Contractor‑Owned, Contractor‑Operated (COCO) ISR services using its JUMP 20‑X unmanned aircraft system. The VTOL platform delivers fully autonomous, hands‑free operation with more than 13 hours of endurance, a 115‑mile...
Department of Commerce Proposes ‘Space Commerce Certification’ Process
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce has issued a proposal for a voluntary “Space Commerce Certification” that would create a unified, light‑touch mission‑authorization pathway for novel commercial space activities such as in‑space manufacturing, satellite servicing and lunar...
“Precision Strike Missiles” (PrSMs) in Iran War: The U.S. Obligation to Conduct a Legal Review of New Weapons
The U.S. Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) entered combat during Operation Epic Fury, marking its first operational use. A New York Times report linked the missile to a strike in Lamerd, Iran that hit a sports hall and an elementary...
Just 64 Miles: Delta Air Lines' 10 New Ultra-Short Flights Revealed
Delta’s average stage length rose to 821 nautical miles in April 2026, an 11 % increase since 2019 and the third‑longest among U.S. legacy carriers. The carrier introduced ten ultra‑short routes, highlighted by a 64‑nm Detroit‑Lansing flight that takes about 20...
At Top Speed, This Is How Fighter Jets Like The F-35 Perform
Modern fighter design has shifted from chasing ever‑higher top speeds to prioritizing stealth, fuel efficiency, and sustained combat performance. The F‑35 Lightning II, despite being the most advanced fighter, tops out at Mach 1.6, making it one of the slower frontline jets....
Carbon Taxes and Fuel Costs Drive ACMI Fleet Realignment
Avion Express is pulling 15 Airbus A320‑ceo aircraft out of the European ACMI market and redeploying them to its Brazilian operation as EU carbon taxes and soaring fuel prices raise operating costs by roughly 25%. The shift reflects a broader...
Airbus Unveils Skywise Subsidiary, Integrating Navblue and Skywise Digital Services Solutions
Airbus announced the creation of Skywise, a wholly‑owned subsidiary that merges its Skywise digital platform with Navblue’s flight‑operations solutions. The new entity will employ roughly 750 staff across North America, Europe and Asia‑Pacific, serving both Airbus and non‑Airbus fleets. Skywise...
Iran Exposed a New Reality for U.S. Air Power
Operation Epic Fury marked the first time in a generation that the United States had to fight for air superiority, taking four days to neutralize Iran's integrated air‑defense system (IADS). The campaign combined cyber and space attacks, electronic warfare, SEAD...
Explosive Potential of a Fully Fueled Launch Vehicle and What an On-Pad Explosion Can Do
The article explains that a fully fueled launch vehicle stores terajoules of chemical energy, but the actual on‑pad explosion depends on propellant mixing, ignition timing, and confinement, not a simple TNT equivalent. Using public data, Starship V3’s methane load translates...
CanarySat CEO Antonio Abad Outlines the Sovereign, Secure Approach Behind the Magec Constellation
CanarySat, backed by Spain’s Arquimea, unveiled its Magec constellation – a planned 264‑satellite Ka‑band LEO network aimed at sovereign, secure communications for governments, critical infrastructure and essential enterprises. The company, less than a year old, leverages five years of design...
Cirrus Launches New Simulator Training Program For SR Series Owners
Cirrus Aircraft has introduced Mission Ready Simulator Sessions, a free, structured training program for SR20 and SR22 owners. The curriculum offers 24 scenario‑based missions released twice a month, allowing pilots to complete up to 12 simulator sessions annually. Developed by...
Jeremy Hansen, an Artemis II Astronaut, Is the First Canadian on a Crewed Moon Mission
Jeremy Hansen has been named a mission specialist for NASA’s Artemis II, making him the first Canadian astronaut to travel around the Moon. Artemis II is the agency’s inaugural crewed flight beyond low‑Earth orbit since Apollo, using the Orion capsule and Space...
FedDev Ontario Injects $7M Into Kepler’s High-Speed Satellite Constellation
Toronto‑based Kepler Communications received a $7 million CAD (≈$5.2 million USD) investment from FedDev Ontario to advance its next‑generation optical data‑relay satellite constellation. The funding supports engineering work on Tranche 1, which already placed ten low‑Earth‑orbit satellites into service in January. The grant...
Live in the Booth: Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès Previews Ariane 6 Ramp-Up
Arianespace is accelerating its Ariane 6 launch cadence, with the next mission slated for April 28 following a successful February flight for its biggest customer, Amazon. CEO David Cavaillolès highlighted the massive coordination effort involving roughly 600 European companies to keep the...
NetJets Expands Augusta Footprint As Masters Traffic Climbs
NetJets is constructing a dedicated private terminal at Augusta Regional Airport to accommodate the annual Masters Tournament surge. The project includes a 432,000‑square‑foot private ramp and a full‑service lounge, with construction slated to finish before the 2025 event. NetJets reported...
Oh. Another Moonshot
NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II, a ten‑day crewed flyby of the Moon, marking the first U.S. astronauts to travel beyond low Earth orbit since 1972. The mission is part of NASA’s “Ignition” roadmap, which earmarks roughly $20 billion over the...
SpaceX IPO Defies $1B Revenue Ceiling, Aims Massive Scale
Pretty momentous day when SpaceX files for possibly the largest IPO ever. I remember when VC colleagues used to say this company had stalled at $1B or so of revenues, and that a space taxi company could only be *this* big,...
NASA Taps SFL Missions to Build Eight Satellites for Solar Wind Study
Toronto‑based SFL Missions Inc. has secured a NASA contract to build eight 150‑kilogram “Node” satellites for the HelioSwarm science mission. The Nodes will ride on a larger Hub spacecraft before deploying into coordinated formations in high‑Earth orbit. Built on SFL’s...
Teledyne Forms Dedicated Space Unit to Capture Rising Demand
Teledyne Technologies is launching a dedicated business unit called Teledyne Space, consolidating its imaging, electronics, and component operations to meet rising demand for satellite‑based sensing. The new sector merges detectors, microwave devices, optoelectronics, and radiation‑tolerant semiconductors under one umbrella. It...
US Defense Relies Heavily on Chinese Supply Chains
The chart below is one of the most striking I came across researching my new report on "Defense Innovation" (https://t.co/rRtYxEUTE9). It illustrates the deep dependence of current US air-launched armament supply chains on China. In a world increasingly defined by...
Moon’s Distance Dwarfs All Planets—Artemis II Soars
If you’re having problems conceptualizing why going to the moon is such a big deal, here’s your reminder that you can fit every planet in the solar system in between the Earth and the moon. The Artemis II astronauts are...
Who Is Reid Wiseman, Commander of the Artemis II Moon Mission?
Reid Wiseman, a 50‑year‑old former naval fighter pilot, will command NASA’s Artemis II mission, the agency’s first crewed flight to the Moon since 1972. Selected as an astronaut in 2009, Wiseman has logged extensive flight time, combat deployments, and two spacewalks...
NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Live Launch Broadcast
NASA launched Artemis II, its first crewed flight under the Artemis program, from Kennedy Space Center at 1 p.m. today. The four‑person crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—will spend roughly ten days circling the Moon. The mission’s...
Who Owns the Moon’s Water? The Coming Legal War Over Lunar Resource Extraction Rights
The Moon’s south‑pole water ice is emerging as the first truly valuable commercial resource, promising a propellant depot that could slash deep‑space mission costs. While the 1967 Outer Space Treaty bars sovereignty claims, it remains silent on extraction, prompting a...
First Moon Mission Since 1972 Launches Today
We are sending people to the moon for the first time since 1972 TODAY. Don’t let this historic moment pass you by!
NASA’s SLS‑Orion Launch Shines Bright in Daylight
Epic launch of SLS and Orion. So much better in the daytime to observe. Congratulations to NASA and everyone involved. Y’all made us proud.
MC Tech Days: Materials and Processes for High-Rate Aerospace Manufacturing
The MC Tech Days virtual workshop on April 22 will showcase high‑rate aerospace manufacturing tools and processes, featuring sponsors Toray Group and Composites One and presenters from leading material and aerospace firms. Meanwhile, Avel Robotics of France signed a development contract...
SLS Launches Orion Crew, First Moon‑bound Flight Since 1972
The SLS rocket lifts off with the Orion spacecraft and a crew of four on a mission to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time since the Apollo-17 expedition in 1972: https://t.co/biWISWldtE https://t.co/3pTosP7Qwk
Artemis II Crew Cleared for Launch, Fans Go Full Send
From the final countdown poll minutes before NASA's Artemis II crew launches to the moon: "Artemis 2 crew is go for launch. full send."
How Successful Space Businesses Identify Risk and Strengthen Resilience
Successful space firms now treat risk as a test of corporate survival, prioritizing cash generation, customer concentration, and balance‑sheet discipline over pure launch‑failure scenarios. Rocket Lab posted record $602 million revenue and a $1.85 billion backlog for 2025, while Planet reported $307.7 million...
NASA Delays Launch, Extending Hold Beyond 6:24 Pm EDT
NASA is extending the hold to give them a little more time to finish some work. So launch will not be when the window opens at 6:24 pm EDT.
Artemis II Launch Delayed, No New Countdown Set.
NASA has not set a new T-0 but the Artemis II mission will not launch at 6:24 pm ET today. “A little more work” to do.
Europe/Africa Outpaces US in Artemis II Viewership
More people are watching the live broadcast of the Artemis II launch from Europe/Africa than from the US. https://t.co/ji5YAWcT5Y . . https://t.co/t2oGgtcoaK
NASA Attributes Sensor Reading to Instrumentation, Launch Unaffected
NASA: "Engineers investigated a sensor on the launch abort system’s attitude control motor controller battery that showed a higher temperature than would be expected. It is believed to be an instrumentation issue and will not affect today’s launch."
NASA Flags Battery Temperature Issue on Artemis 2 Abort System
NASA reporting an issue with one of the batteries on the Artemis 2 launch abort system; temperature out of range.
Artemis 2 Launch Window Nears: Range Go, 80% Weather Favorability
A view of Artemis 2 from the KSC press site. Range is go and weather is still 80% favorable for launch during the two-hour window. https://t.co/PdQs3jS1sj
NASA Clears Artemis 2 Launch After FTS Fix
An update from NASA on the flight termination system (FTS) issue: the range is now go for the Artemis 2 launch.
Artemis II Countdown Continues Despite Flight Termination Issue
Artemis II update: An issue with the Flight Termination System is being worked, but the countdown is proceeding.
Secretive NT‑43A 737 Backs NASA’s Artemis II Launch
World’s Most Secretive 737 Is Supporting NASA’s Historic Artemis II Launch It is rare to see the unique NT-43A aircraft at all, let alone flying over Florida ahead of the first crewed lunar space mission in decades. https://t.co/8yjZDD36jh
First Crew Walkout Coverage: A Historic Moment Witnessed
My first time covering a crew walkout in person. It was worth a moment to take in the history. https://t.co/yFAJKAT1Jd
Artemis II Showcases Unity Over Mere Flight Test
“Artemis II is far more than a flight test” says RAeS President Elect, Prof Malcolm Macdonald. “It’s a demonstration of what happens when we choose to come together." #NASA #Artemis #ArtemisII #avgeek #spaceflight https://t.co/hDB2MAHbL2 https://t.co/vgVszNi6vJ
Artemis II Crew’s Perfect Blend Wins Hearts
The crew of Artemis II is just a perfect mix of personalities. It is so easy to like and root for Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy on their grand journey around the Moon. Godspeed, all.
Fans Queue Hours Early for NASA Merch
Five hours before the Artemis 2 launch window opens and lines are already forming… for the NASA merch stand at the press site. https://t.co/G3mNTfUVBT
Middle East Interceptor Dubbed “P1‑Sun” For Its Shape
Best part of these getting used in the middle east is the name “P1-Sun” is a joke about the shape of the interceptor... https://t.co/i5AGrieF4b
Roscosmos Confirms Post‑ISS Station Built From New ISS Modules
Speaking at the Federation Council, Roskosmos chief also confirmed that the post-ISS station would be assembled at ISS out of (New) Node, Science & Power and Airlock modules (as I illustrated back in 2021 ;) Context: https://t.co/wVxTkUEbNa https://t.co/zOHPUfG7hC