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
Max Space Thunderbird Station: Can Inflatable Habitats Replace the ISS by 2030?
Max Space plans to launch its Thunderbird inflatable station in 2029, positioning it as a full‑scale commercial habitat to replace the ISS after its 2030 retirement. The design relies on a compact launch package that expands in orbit, delivering more usable volume per kilogram than traditional metal modules. Thunderbird will host microgravity research, in‑orbit manufacturing, and commercial missions while integrating rigid docking ports and power systems. Success would demonstrate that an entire station can be built around expandable architecture, not just an add‑on module.
Portal Space’s Mini‑Nova Payload Launches, Demonstrating Maneuverable Spacecraft Tech
Portal Space Systems successfully placed its Mini‑Nova payload into low‑Earth orbit as part of SpaceX’s Transporter‑16 rideshare. The tissue‑box‑sized instrument will spend six months attached to Momentus’ Vigoride‑7 to validate the “brains and critical power systems” for the company’s upcoming...
NASA Is Leading the Way to the Moon, but the Military Won't Be Far Behind
NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight near the Moon since 1972, launched from Kennedy Space Center with two Navy test pilots at the helm. The U.S. Space Force provided range safety, abort monitoring, and will recover the Orion capsule...
How the Space Force Is Supporting NASA’s Artemis II Mission
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 is providing extensive range support for NASA’s Artemis II crewed lunar mission, scheduled for launch on April 1. Because the Space Launch System lacks an autonomous flight‑safety system, the range will staff roughly 28...
NASA Holidays Boost Launch Odds This Time
I think it will actually launch this time for the simple reason that NASA events and holidays (however small) just like to go together.
Wishing NASA Success on Artemis Launch, Bon Voyage Christina
Wishing @NASAAdmin and the entire @NASA team the best for tomorrow's Artemis launch attempt - and a special 'bon voyage' to @centerforastro alum @Astro_Christina !
NIST Unveils Hydroxide Catalysis Bonding for Photonic Chips to Survive Extreme Environments
NIST researchers led by physicist Nikolai Klimov introduced a hydroxide catalysis bonding (HCB) technique that creates glass‑like, inorganic bonds between optical fibers and photonic integrated circuits, allowing the chips to survive temperature swings, radiation and vacuum. The breakthrough could accelerate...
US Military Outlines Emerging Moon Strategy
The US military is developing a strategy for the Moon. Here's where things stand. https://t.co/7DZaZ8Dmnn
China’s Lijian‑2 Rocket Completes Maiden Flight, Debuts Common Booster Core
China’s Lijian‑2 carrier rocket successfully launched on March 30, marking the first flight of a vehicle built around a 3.35 m common booster core (CBC) design. The 53‑metre, 625‑ton rocket can deliver up to 8 t to a 500 km sun‑synchronous orbit and...
In Satellite Internet News
SpaceX has quietly filed a confidential IPO with the SEC, aiming for a June market debut and a potential valuation of $1.75 trillion, one of the largest ever for an aerospace firm. In parallel, Amazon struck a partnership with Delta Air...
F-35 From Nellis Air Force Base Crashes in Nevada
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II from Nellis Air Force Base crashed within the Nevada Test and Training Range on March 31. The pilot ejected safely and suffered only minor injuries. Emergency responders confirmed no impact on nearby populated...
Who Makes Javelin Missiles?
The U.S.-made FGM‑148 Javelin anti‑tank missile has become a cornerstone of Ukraine’s defense, with an estimated 280 of the first 300 missiles striking Russian vehicles. Weighing just 50 lb (22 kg), its portability enables guerrilla tactics in urban combat, turning it into...
SAS Celebrates 80 Years of Intercontinental Flight with a Special Livery
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is commemorating its 80th anniversary of intercontinental service with a bespoke blue livery on its A330‑300 LN‑RKR. The aircraft’s tail features a stylized “80” and the slogan “Celebrating 80 years,” echoing the airline’s historic Stockholm‑New York route launched...
Confident of Air Supremacy, US Sends B-52 Bombers over Iran
The United States announced that B‑52 strategic bombers have flown directly over Iranian territory for the first time since the conflict began, signaling what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described as "unchallenged air supremacy." Hegseth warned Iran could still launch missiles...
Caught Between Airbus and Airlines, Pratt Prioritizes the Grounded Fleet
Pratt & Whitney is wrestling with a powder‑metal contamination problem that has grounded more than 2,000 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The issue affects the PW1100G engine, which powers roughly 46% of the 4,400 Neo deliveries since 2016. While Airbus pushes for...
Porter Airlines Welcomes Carlo Rinaldi as Director, Quebec Market Development
Porter Airlines has named Carlo Rinaldi as Director of Quebec Market Development, tasking him with expanding the carrier’s corporate and agency business in the province. Rinaldi returns with more than 20 years of enterprise sales experience, including a decade previously...
US Appeals Court Denies Bid From Families of Boeing 737 Max Crash Victims to Reopen Criminal Case
A three‑judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied families of the 737 Max crash victims a request to reopen the criminal case against Boeing. The families argued the Justice Department violated the Crime Victims’ Rights Act by...
Russian Forces Lose An-26 Carrying Troops over Crimea
Russian Ministry of Defence reported loss of contact with an Antonov An‑26 transport aircraft over occupied Crimea on March 31, 2026. Military‑linked sources later confirmed the aircraft likely crashed while carrying roughly 30 personnel. Preliminary assessments point to technical failure...
Latin America’s Coolest Airline Wingo Connects Medellín with Montego Bay
Wingo Airlines will begin a direct Medellín‑Montego Bay service on June 23, 2026, operating three times weekly with roughly 32,000 seats per year. Introductory fares start at $159 one‑way, targeting price‑sensitive Colombian travelers. The route builds on the earlier Bogotá‑Montego...
Insitu Awarded $8.6 Million Services Contract by Canada Armed Forces to Support Long-Endurance CU-172 (Integrator) UAS Fleet
Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary, secured an $8.6 million CAD (≈$6.4 million USD) firm‑fixed‑price services contract from Canada’s Department of National Defence. The award funds program management, airworthiness support, spares, repairs and future upgrades for the Canadian Armed Forces’ CU‑172 (Integrator) long‑endurance UAV fleet. The...
Hire Outsiders to Spark Breakthrough Innovation
I met one of the cofounders of @neuralink last week at @hf0 (he's now building a new way to get cargo from China to USA a lot cheaper via autonomous dirigibles like the Goodyear Blimp, but designed and manufactured all...
Israeli Strikes Damage Civilian Planes at Tehran Airport
Caspian Airlines MD-83 at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport after Israeli strikes. Holes ripped through the fuselage, insulation hanging out. Mehrabad handles regular passenger flights but is also used for military stuff, and reports confirm multiple civilian-registered planes got hit on the ground...
Yes, NASA's Launching Artemis 2 Astronauts to the Moon on April Fools' Day. It's Not a Joke.
NASA is set to launch Artemis 2, its first crewed lunar flyby, on April 1, 2024, from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39B. The four‑person crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Haines—will spend ten days orbiting the Moon aboard the...
NASA's “Fastest” Reentry Matches Apollo 10 Speeds
NASA claims the Art. 2 reentry will be the fastest crew entry ever at "about 25000 mph" (i.e. somewhere in the range 10.95 to 11.40 km/s). However the Horizons trajectory for Art2 appears to give 11.06 km/s (inertial) while Apollo...
Artemis II Crew Set to Launch Around Moon Tomorrow
The countdown is on! In under a day hopefully the Artemis II crew of 4 will be on their way around the moon. 👨🚀👨🚀👩🚀👨🚀 https://t.co/kwANSZYAmO
U.S. Army Opens Review After Apache Helicopters Hover Over Kid Rock's Nashville Estate
The U.S. Army has initiated an administrative review of an unauthorized low‑altitude flyby by two AH‑64 Apache attack helicopters over musician Kid Rock's Nashville property. The crews have been suspended while officials assess whether flight‑plan violations occurred, amid concerns about...
Delta's 2028 Wi‑Fi Upgrade Leaves United Ahead Now
Delta Air Lines is bringing faster, satellite-powered Wi-Fi to its planes via Amazon’s Leo network — but with the rollout not starting until 2028, United Airlines remains the better bet for high-speed connectivity right now. https://t.co/zAi3emQRin
F-35 Crashes in Nevada; Pilot Ejects Safely
F-35 Crashes In The Nevada Test And Training Range Complex The aircraft went down in the range complex north of Las Vegas earlier today, with the pilot safely ejecting. https://t.co/UYfpcloO4p
Faced With Starlink Competition, Ground Segment Leaders Turn to Orchestration, Specialization
Ground‑segment providers are feeling the pressure of vertically integrated LEO megaconstellations such as Starlink and Amazon Leo, which manufacture their own user terminals and drive prices to rock‑bottom levels. Executives from Ovzon, SpaceBridge and Comtech warned that the traditional consumer‑grade GEO...
Pakistan Alerts Jet Fuel Shortage
Pakistan & jet fuel crisis: Tonight, Pakistan has issued a NOTAM warning of ‘disruption in supply chain of jet fuel’ and advises airlines to carry maximum fuel from origin & to avoid refuelling in Pakistan 🛢️👇🏽 https://t.co/XoKrzwpziG
Marvel Tech Meets F-35: Cross‑Industry Innovation
From Hollywood to aerospace - how Marvel interfaces influences the F-35 (and vice versa). Only in April 2026 AEROSPACE #avgeek https://t.co/nOh3geQBMP https://t.co/YfeJjBtrCU
Air Force Awards BlackSky $99M to Large Aperture Optical Payload for Space-Based Imaging
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory awarded BlackSky Technology a $99 million contract to develop a low‑cost, large‑aperture optical payload for space‑based imaging and space‑domain awareness. An initial $2.1 million FY‑2026 R&D obligation will jump‑start design work, with the SBIR Phase III award...
Reform UK Pledges to Drop Short‑haul Flight Fee
Reform UK vows to scrap air passenger fee on short-haul flights https://t.co/hGPfsoAxgb via @LucyGJWhite https://t.co/8UtoCIwCSi
AirKamuy
AirKamuy, a Tokyo‑based startup founded in August 2022, designs and manufactures fixed‑wing VTOL aircraft and unmanned solutions. The company handles design and assembly in‑house, aiming to become the world’s leading fixed‑wing VTOL manufacturer. Its leadership combines telecom infrastructure, finance, and...
Artemis II Launch Being Captured in Apple’s Immersive Video Format
NASA announced that the Artemis II crewed lunar flyby will be captured using Apple’s immersive video format for the Vision Pro headset. The partnership will produce a 3‑D, spatial video feed that can be streamed to consumers worldwide. Apple plans to integrate...
Artemis II Moon Mission Remains On Track for April 1
Everything Still on Track for Artemis II Launch to the Moon on April 1 https://t.co/78OHpYtZiS
Board First-Class First: Airlines' Profit Drivers Demand Priority
Airlines who literally make all their profit from their first class passengers should always board them first, no exceptions
Coffee Break: Armed Madhouse – The Invulnerable Golden Dome
The piece argues that the proposed "Golden Dome" missile‑defense architecture cannot deliver the promised invulnerability, even with trillion‑dollar spending. It points out that missile defense is fundamentally probabilistic, and recent Middle‑East engagements have shown leakage under layered defenses. Costs rise...
NASA Readies Moon Return After 50 Years, Billions Invested
Great feature by @lorengrush: Billions of Dollars and More Than 50 Years Later, NASA Prepares to Return to the Moon https://t.co/mnCAxEiLNO
Rheinmetall‑Boeing Alliance Boosts Ghost Bat European Market
MQ-28 Ghost Bat Gains Major European Foothold As Rheinmetall Joins Forces With Boeing The MQ-28 Ghost Bat could be fielded by the Luftwaffe, but the door is also open to a potentially very lucrative European CCA market. https://t.co/TN5Qrahts1
SCDA Taps Barrett As Assistant Director Of Airports
The Sacramento County Department of Airports (SCDA) appointed Harry Barrett, Jr. as assistant director of airports, effective May 26. Barrett brings a diverse background that includes executive leadership at Palm Springs International Airport, municipal management at Renton, and safety roles at...
US, Europe Lay Foundations for Future LEO Satnav Networks
US, Europe put down markers for future LEO satnav constellations: @XonaSpace Series C brings total financing to $320M; @esa launch of 2 sats registers L-, S-band spectrum w/ @ITU. @infoGMV @aerospacelab_ @OHB_SE @Thales_Alenia_S @GermanOrbital @RocketLab.https://t.co/pKb7ilALbh https://t.co/2lLg6ALUdc
China Conflict Would Overstretch US Tanker Fleet, Warns Veteran Commander
What It Will Take To Fuel A Fight Against China From Former KC-135 Wing Commander Retired Air Force Col. Troy Pananon offers candid insights into the strain a fight with China would put on the tanker fleet. https://t.co/dLfQL3egZp
News Outlets Share Coverage Plans for Historic Artemis II Launch
NASA is set to launch Artemis II on April 1, 2024, sending a four‑person crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, astronaut Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—on a ten‑day lunar orbit test flight. The mission will ride the Space Launch System (SLS) and...
Top Space Lawmaker on Moon Base, Artemis Plans
Rep. Mike Haridopolos, chair of the House space subcommittee, voiced strong congressional backing for NASA’s expanded lunar agenda, which includes a permanent Moon base, monthly uncrewed landings beginning in 2027, and a crewed return in 2028. He highlighted Artemis II’s upcoming...
Outsiders Drive Radical Innovation in Aerospace and Auto
Indeed, it was *because* I was not from the aerospace industry that SpaceX made such radical breakthroughs. Same for Tesla. Those in the industry would have if they could have.
Finally Thrilled: Orion's Third Flight Exceeds Expectations
I had mixed feelings about the first two flights of Orion. But not this one. https://t.co/9YROBrhJ7M
Southwest 2.0: The Radical Reinvention of America’s Favorite Cult Airline
Southwest Airlines has abandoned its hallmark open‑seat, no‑fee model, rolling out assigned seating, baggage fees, and third‑party distribution. The shift was driven by activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which forced leadership changes and a new board. Within two years, the...
Artemis 2 Likely Launches Wednesday, 80% Chance
Artemis 2 weather forecast is 80% go for Wednesday. If launch slips: 70% go Thursday, 75% Friday, 70% Saturday.
Picture of the Day: March 31, 2026
On March 31, 2026, AVweb featured a photograph taken at Burlington International Airport (KBTV) showing a Cessna Skyhawk idling behind a formation of Vermont Air National Guard F‑16 Falcons. The image captures the juxtaposition of light general‑aviation traffic with high‑performance...