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
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 revenue, $640 million cash and 98 % recurring contract value in fiscal 2026. Companies such as Iridium ($871.7 million revenue, $634 million service revenue), MDA Space (C$4.0 billion ≈ $2.96 billion backlog) and Eutelsat’s €1.5 billion ≈ $1.64 billion capital raise illustrate how diversified backlog and recurring revenue drive resilience. The article argues that governance, cyber security, and geopolitically driven sovereign demand are now core risk factors that firms must embed in their risk‑management frameworks.
EPC Space Adds EPC7C010 and EPC7C011 Half-Bridge Buck Platforms for High-Rel and Rad-Hard Applications
EPC Space announced two new half‑bridge buck evaluation boards, the EPC7C010 (100 V/20 A) and EPC7C011 (200 V/10 A), built around radiation‑hardened eGaN HEMTs and isolated gate drivers. Both platforms are optimized for 350 kHz operation but can run from 50 kHz to 1.5 MHz, delivering peak...
Only 52% Full: United Airlines' 10 Emptiest Long-Haul Routes Revealed
United Airlines recorded a record 20.9 million long‑haul passengers in 2025, a 6.6 % rise, but those flights made up only 11.5 % of its total traffic. Analysis of Department of Transportation data shows ten long‑haul routes with load factors below 55 %, six...
TTM Technologies Leverages $1.6B Defense Backlog as New Growth Anchor
TTM Technologies reported a $1.6 billion aerospace and defense backlog and a fourth‑quarter 2025 book‑to‑bill ratio of 1.46, positioning the defense segment as a structural growth driver. Analysts see the backlog supporting a 16.5% revenue rise to $3.39 billion in FY2026 and...
Arceon Materials Demonstrate Near-Zero Structural Degradation in AFRL High-Heat Torch Testing
Arceon B.V. successfully completed AFRL oxyacetylene torch testing of three Carbeon carbon ceramic composite samples, in partnership with Moog Inc. The materials endured sustained heat flux above 1200 °C in steady‑state and cyclic loading without meaningful structural degradation. Post‑test measurements showed...
USAF Implements Restructure of Strategy, Design, Requirements Directorate
On April 1, 2026 the U.S. Air Force completed a long‑planned overhaul of its Strategy, Design and Requirements directorate (A5/7). The restructure folds the provisional Integrated Capabilities Command directly into Headquarters Air Force, creating a single enterprise‑level organization. A new Chief Modernization...
From Apollo to Artemis, and Then Beyond
The Apollo program not only secured the 1960s Space Race but also acted as a catalyst for the nascent digital industry, absorbing roughly 60% of the decade’s microchip output. Its cultural resonance inspired generations of engineers and programmers, embedding technology...
Saltzman: Space ‘Baked Into’ Modern Combat Operations
U.S. Space Force chief Gen. Chance Saltzman said the service is now "baked in" to modern combat, supplying missile‑warning, satellite communications and electronic‑warfare capabilities that underpin joint operations from Iran to Venezuela. He highlighted the force’s role in the February...
Defense Spending Surge Fuels Unseen Innovation Arms Race
I'm proud to launch Sage Road's sixth report, which focuses on "Defense Innovation" (read the Executive Summary here: https://t.co/rRtYxEUTE9). Accelerating global defense spending is poised to run headlong into accelerating innovation with market participants underestimating the breadth of implications to...
IndiGo Revises Fuel Charges as ATF Costs Soar
IndiGo announced a revision of fuel surcharges on both domestic and international routes effective April 2, after air turbine fuel (ATF) prices surged more than 130% month‑on‑month. The Indian government limited the domestic surcharge increase to 25%, prompting the airline...
Aspect Aerospace Raises $2.4M To Develop Single-Board Satellites for Space-Based Environmental Monitoring
Aspect Aerospace announced two financing milestones: a $1.9 million Direct‑to‑Phase II SBIR award from the U.S. Space Force and a $500 000 pre‑seed investment from its incubator SOSV, totaling $2.4 million. The company’s Single‑Board Satellite (SBS) platform packs up to 100 miniature satellites onto...
TOP 5 Most Notable US Rocket Launch Sites with Long Histories
The United States now operates a mixed network of government‑run and privately‑licensed launch sites, with twelve commercial spaceports complementing four federal facilities. Vandenberg Space Force Base tops the list with over 700 launches since 1959, while Cape Canaveral Air Force...
FCC Eyes Sweeping Reforms to Boost US Drone Power
The FCC has issued a public notice calling for sweeping reforms to accelerate the U.S. drone ecosystem, tying the effort to the Trump administration’s “American drone dominance” strategy. Chairman Brendan Carr highlighted drone production, deployment, and export as national‑security priorities...
FCC Seeks Comment on Expanding Spectrum Access for “Weird Space Stuff”
On March 31, 2026 the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to broaden spectrum access for emerging commercial space activities such as in‑space servicing, lunar missions, and private orbital labs. The proposal targets the 2320‑2345 MHz band and formalizes piggyback...
FAA Restricts SFO Landings
The FAA announced new landing restrictions at San Francisco International Airport, cutting the arrival rate from 54 to 36 flights per hour—a one‑third reduction. The policy permanently bans side‑by‑side simultaneous landings on the airport’s 750‑foot‑spaced parallel runways, requiring staggered approaches....
What It Takes to Keep Astronauts Safe in Deep Space
NASA’s Artemis II mission will launch this week, sending four astronauts on a ten‑day lunar flyby to validate deep‑space life‑support and hardware. Materials scientist Debbie Senesky explains that the mission relies on advanced composites, carbon‑fiber structures, and emerging 3‑D‑printed parts to...
HLRS: Particle Scattering Model Could Improve Low-Orbit Spaceflight
Scientists at the University of Stuttgart’s ATLAS center used HLRS’s Hawk supercomputer to run 225,000 molecular‑dynamics simulations of oxygen atoms striking satellite materials in very low Earth orbit (VLEO). The data trained a machine‑learning scattering kernel that can predict particle‑surface...
Putting Turbulence Behind IndiGo Appoints Willie Walsh to Drive Future Global Growth
IndiGo announced the appointment of former IATA Director General and ex‑British Airways chief Willie Walsh as its next CEO, pending regulatory clearance. Walsh is slated to assume the role by August 3, following the departure of Pieter Elbers after a...
How to Watch NASA’s Artemis II Moon Launch Online
NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than five decades, is slated for launch on Wednesday evening, April 1, 2026. The flight will circle the Moon before returning to Earth, marking a pivotal step toward a permanent lunar presence....
Vertical Aerospace Launches Valo Battery Pilot Production Line, Positive Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results
Vertical Aerospace has put into operation a 15,000‑square‑foot battery pilot production line at its Vertical Energy Centre (VEC), featuring automated aerospace‑grade manufacturing that delivered up to 1.4 MW of peak power during flight tests. The line will assemble battery packs for...
CERN Timepix Chips Fly to the Moon
Artemis II launched with six CERN‑developed Timepix chips integrated into NASA’s Hybrid Electronic Radiation Assessor (HERA) system. The detectors will monitor real‑time radiation composition, intensity, and energy as the crew passes through the Van Allen belts and encounters galactic cosmic rays....
Artemis Repeats Apollo’s Uneconomic, Bureaucratic Moon Missteps
I'm genuinely excited to see America headed back to the Moon. But Artemis is a moondoggle and shows we haven't learned the deepest lessons of the Apollo era. Remember that Apollo did *not* result in durable progress in space. It marked...
NUBURU Wins Counter-Drone Directed-Energy Order From Government Defense Electronics Organization in Asia–Pacific
NUBURU Inc’s Italian subsidiary Lyocon secured a $250,000 initial deployment order from a tier‑one government defense electronics organization in a major Asia‑Pacific market for its portable directed‑energy laser dazzler aimed at counter‑drone missions. The contract follows a multi‑phase validation process...
Doroni Aerospace Publicly Launches Its H1-X Personal eVTOL
Doroni Aerospace unveiled its consumer‑focused H1‑X personal eVTOL at a "Soul of the Sky" event in Dania Beach, offering media and investors a hands‑on experience with the full‑scale showroom model. The aircraft combines a tandem‑wing layout with electric ducted‑fan propulsion...
AIAA Anticipates Artemis II Launch with Collection of Technical Papers
AIAA announced a complimentary collection of technical papers tied to NASA’s Artemis II mission, drawing from the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets and AIAA SciTech Forum papers published between 2024 and 2026. The papers are hosted on AIAA’s Aerospace Research Central...
Hawaii Air Tour Operator Suspends Flights After Fatal Crash
Airborne Aviation, a Hawaii‑based helicopter tour operator, suspended all flights indefinitely after a Hughes MD‑500 crashed off Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast on March 26. The accident killed three passengers and injured two, including the pilot, during a sightseeing trip near Kalalau Beach....
Artemis 2 Awaits Moon Launch at Dawn
Sunrise behind the Artemis 2 rocket, poised To launch to the moon. #artemisii #sls #nasa #sunrise
All Aboard: Dnata Completes Ground Handling Expansion in Italy
Dubai‑based dnata has completed the full integration of its Italian ground handling subsidiary, bringing all operations under the dnata brand. The move follows dnata’s 2025 acquisition of Airport Handling and expands its footprint to Rome Fiumicino, complementing existing Milan and...
April-June 2026 Issue of Aerospace America Now Live
The April‑June 2026 issue of Aerospace America is now live, featuring the cover story “The New Space Race” by Leonard David and associate editor Cat Hofacker. The article examines the United States’ renewed push to land astronauts on the Moon, a goal...
First Woman Launches to Moon Today – Watch Live
The first woman in history is flying to the Moon today. 💅🏼🚀💕 The launch window opens at 6:24 pm EST. Watch live on nasa.gov
Artemis II Launch Sparks Excitement for Moon Return
If you're looking for a reason to get psyched about the Artemis II launch today, check this out: https://t.co/qlqzQNJzby https://t.co/hbJQThOk2Q
Aviator Renews and Expands Air France–KLM Ground Handling Partnership Across 9 Nordic Stations
Aviator Airport Alliance has renewed and expanded its ground‑handling contract with Air France‑KLM, now covering nine Nordic airports across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. The agreement adds six new stations—Bergen, Trondheim, Kristiansand, Ålesund, Tromsø and Stockholm Arlanda—bringing the total to...
Starlink Lets Passengers Call on Flights, Ending Excuse
ts Time To Let Passengers Make Calls On Planes — Starlink Ends The Old Excuse - View from the Wing https://t.co/MU0lR5fhYP
Roscosmos Confirms First Methane‑Oxygen Engine Test Fired
According to Roskosmos chief, the "first firing of the methane-oxygen engine (presumably the RD-0177M demonstrator) took place just last week" (which would make it between March 23 and 29). Context: https://t.co/RwOb1eWwT3 https://t.co/lZc1VCXbeJ
NIOA, GD-OTS to Explore Australian Assembly of Apache Hydra-70s
Australian defence firm NIOA and US‑based General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems have signed an agreement to study local assembly of 70 mm Hydra‑70 rockets for the Australian Army’s new AH‑64E Apache fleet. The plan builds on existing Foreign Military Sales...
Moonbound Tonight: Repeating the Dream Feels Better
People are going to the Moon (well, almost) again tonight. Saying it five times in a row, and each time feels a little better.
NASA Shares Live Artemis II Updates Alongside Livestream
In addition to the livestream, NASA is also posting live Artemis II updates here: https://t.co/9gcpALfGtC
Delta to Equip 500 Planes with Amazon’s Leo Satellite Internet by 2028
Delta Air Lines announced it will install Amazon’s Leo low‑Earth‑orbit satellite broadband on 500 aircraft beginning in 2028. The rollout targets domestic narrow‑body jets, promising faster streaming, larger entertainment libraries and new onboard commerce options.
Moon Mission Could Help Humanity Rediscover Earth
Science is transcendent -- true to nature in another galaxy on other side of the observable Universe. Humanity could use some of that transcendence here on Earth...by leaving Earth to go to the Moon. "58 Years After ‘Earthrise,’ NASA’s New...
SpaceX Rumored to Acquire Globalstar at SatShow 2026
"Rumors that SpaceX will buy GlobalStar were the buzz at SatShow 2026 last week." https://t.co/YuUnHqkpoE “I think everyone’s convinced that there will be a sale of Globalstar,” @TMFAssociates , founder of the satellite research firm TMF Associates, told @malleven33
Ariane 5’s “Reused Code” Catastrophe
On June 4, 1996, the Ariane 5’s maiden flight exploded 37 seconds after liftoff when software inherited from Ariane 4 overflowed a 16‑bit integer. The overflow shut down both inertial reference units, causing the flight computer to misread diagnostic data as valid...
Artemis II Fueling Progresses Smoothly, Sparking Cautious Optimism
Excited to see that the Artemis II fueling is going so well, but can't but feel ... https://t.co/gJGnTj2Cc7
FCC Backs US Drone Industry Amid Anduril Showcase
AMERICAN DRONE DOMINANCE I just visited with Anduril for demonstrations of their drone & counter-drone technologies. Today, the FCC is launching a proceeding to support our domestic drone industry. President Trump has been clear that America’s innovators will lead the way. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/IETZQ5S08H
Airports Against the Odds — Beirut and the Art of Keeping the Runway Open
Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport remains operational despite nearby Israeli airstrikes, turning crisis management into a national expertise. Lebanon’s sole commercial gateway now serves as a critical conduit for humanitarian aid, evacuation and limited commerce amid a broader conflict. In contrast, Israel’s...
Artemis Astronauts Brave Unproven Systems on Moon Mission
Imagine the sheer courage of today's Artemis astronauts: testing aspects of the Orion capsule, a new and more distant orbit around the moon, a heat shield that previously disappointed, and...worst of all...an as yet untested. . . um. . ....
Artemis II Fueling Begins at Kennedy, Launch Day Overview
Fueling has started at Kennedy Space Center. Here’s a rundown of all the big events for Artemis II launch day. https://t.co/avBdoxvMmi
Exclusive: In-Orbit Manufacturing Startup Dispatch Emerges From Stealth
Dispatch, a Y Combinator‑backed startup, emerged from stealth with $500,000 seed funding to develop an uncrewed orbital manufacturing station. The company will use in‑house designed, single‑use reentry vehicles to ferry payloads, starting with a 30 kg test flight in 2027 and...
Chinese Airlines Raise Fuel Surcharges Amid Iran War Fallout
Chinese Airlines to Hike Fuel Surcharges as Iran War Fallout Hits Home - Caixin Global https://t.co/tKHHV7HqD9
FAA Cuts SFO Capacity By 33% In Blow To United Airlines Hub
Federal Aviation Administration has reduced San Francisco International Airport’s arrival capacity by 33%, cutting the hourly limit from 54 to roughly 36 flights. The reduction coincides with a runway closure for construction that will remain until early October, further straining...
Virgin Galactic Reopens Ticket Sales with Out-of-This-World Price Hikes
Virgin Galactic has reopened suborbital ticket sales, raising the price to $750,000 per seat from $600,000 in 2023. The company plans to launch commercial flights in Q4 2026 after completing flight‑test milestones for its new Delta‑Class spacecraft. CEO Michael Colglazier said...