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
The FAA Has Banned the Famous Parallel Landing Approach at San Francisco International Airport, Warns of Flight Delays
The FAA has officially banned side‑by‑side parallel landings on San Francisco International Airport’s east‑west runways, a practice that allowed two aircraft to touch down simultaneously. The ban is tied to a six‑month repaving project on the airport’s north‑south runways and will remain in effect even after construction ends. As a result, SFO’s arrival flow rate will be reduced, prompting anticipated flight delays through the remainder of the year. The agency says it is studying ways to safely boost the airport’s capacity again.
Watch Live: Artemis II Launch
Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed mission to the Moon in over five decades, is slated for launch on 1 April 2026 at 18:24 local time. The European Service Module (ESM) will deploy solar arrays eight minutes after liftoff, provide power and propulsion, and...
Canada Awards $1bn CC-330 Husky Support Contracts for RCAF Fleet
The Canadian government has awarded three contracts worth roughly C$1.5 bn (about $1 bn USD) to sustain the Royal Canadian Air Force’s nine CC‑330 Husky aircraft. L3Harris MAS will handle a C$1.1 bn (≈$800 m USD) 10‑year maintenance and materiel support program, while Airbus...
U.S. Senators Back Taiwan's $40 Billion Special Defense Budget Amid Rising Cross‑Strait Tensions
A bipartisan delegation of four U.S. senators met Taiwan’s president to endorse a $40 billion special defense budget that remains blocked in the island’s opposition‑controlled parliament. The visit underscores U.S. resolve to bolster Taiwan’s security as Beijing condemns the trip and...
Northrop Grumman Tests Lumberjack Strike Drone
Northrop Grumman showcased its Lumberjack Group 3 uncrewed aircraft system at the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division’s Operation Lethal Eagle exercise. The drone executed fully autonomous missions through the Army’s Maven Smart System, launched the six‑pound Hatchet precision‑strike munition, and then transitioned to...
Artemis 2 Countdown Continues – No Issues
NASA’s Artemis II mission is on track for a 6:24 p.m. EDT launch on April 1, 2026, with the countdown now entering the L‑15H30M window. All non‑essential personnel have cleared Launch Complex 39B and critical pre‑launch activities such as nitrogen inerting and ground launch...
NORAD Chief: F-35 “Not Needed” For North American Defense — Canada’s Fighter Jet Review Just Got Tougher?
U.S. Air Force General Gregory Guillot told the Senate that fifth‑generation fighters like the F‑35 are not required for North American air defence, arguing that their stealth and sensor‑fusion are better suited to overseas missions. The comment arrives as Canada...
U.S. Army Evaluates Low-Cost Hornet Kamikaze Drone in Germany
The U.S. Army conducted its first evaluation of the Hornet DE‑2, a low‑cost, AI‑enabled one‑way attack drone, at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany. The loitering munition can travel roughly eight miles and is designed to operate in contested electronic‑warfare...
Australia’s Jet Fuel Crisis Deepens as China Ban Hits 30%
Australia (which has declared a national fuel supply disruption) is deeper in to its jet fuel crisis 🚨 - For now, emergency supply is being routed from l US through the Panama Canal to Melbourne, Perth - but the route *cannot*...
Space Data Centers Miss Key Advantage: 5× Solar Power
The race to build orbital data centers is missing its biggest variable: power “Solar panel in space produces roughly 5Xs the amount of electricity that the same panel would produce on Earth. There is no atmosphere, no weather and no day-night cycle for most orbits. No interconnection queue and no permitting.” https://t.co/PfmW1te2ac
NASA Advances X-59 Testing After Resolving Cockpit Alert Issue
NASA’s X‑59 low‑boom supersonic demonstrator experienced a false‑positive cockpit warning on March 20, forcing the aircraft to return to Edwards AFB after just nine minutes of a planned hour‑long flight. Engineers identified the warning as a sensor glitch and cleared the...
EASA: Narrow Mideast Corridors Increase Operational Risk
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warns that conflict‑related airspace restrictions across the Middle East are compressing Europe‑Asia flight corridors, forcing traffic into a limited number of routes. The agency advises operators to avoid the airspace of nine countries,...
Sweden’s 2026 Spring Budget to Include €36.5 Million More for Space
Sweden's government proposes a SEK 400 million ($40 million) addition to its 2026 spring budget to develop sovereign launch capability at the Esrange Space Centre, with a focus on military space operations. SEK 14 million ($1.4 million) will strengthen the Swedish Space Agency’s licensing...
SHD Composites: Slovenian Defence Cluster and Make UK Defence 3 Membership
SHD, a Cambium subsidiary, announced formal membership in the Slovenian Defence Cluster and an upgrade to Level 3 membership within Make UK Defence. The moves expand its collaborative footprint across Central Europe and the United Kingdom, reinforcing its role in supplying dual‑use...
What's the Best Cabin Layout for Aircraft Evacuation?
The FAA mandates that all passengers evacuate an aircraft within 90 seconds, but a new AIP Advances study shows this target is unrealistic for modern cabins, especially with growing numbers of elderly travelers. Researchers built a full‑scale Airbus A320 model...
Virgin Atlantic Pulls Riyadh Route Less Than a Year After Launch
Virgin Atlantic announced it will discontinue its London Heathrow–Riyadh service less than a year after the route launched, citing regional instability, low demand, and high operating costs. The airline reported unusually low Upper Class point redemptions, signaling weak commercial performance....
Italy Turns Away Middle East-Bound US Military Aircraft From Sicily Stopover
Italy refused a U.S. military aircraft request to land at Sicily’s Sigonella base while en route to the Middle East. The request arrived after the jets had already taken off, leaving no time for parliamentary approval required for non‑routine flights....
US Air Force Is Eyeing Cost-Effective Automated Counter-Drone Solutions
The U.S. Air Force has issued a Request for Information seeking automated, expeditionary counter‑drone solutions that can be rapidly deployed to protect airbases and forward operating sites. The AFRL‑led RFI, due 7 April, targets integrated systems capable of 24/7 point‑defense against...
Duagon Computing Hardware Set for Deployment to the International Space Station
On March 31, 2026 duagon announced its high‑availability Conduction Cooled Assembly will launch to the International Space Station in April, integrating into the Columbus module. Developed with Space Applications Services, the system uses CompactPCI Serial modular cards—including a G028 CPU,...
NOAA Introduces Updated Icing and Turbulence Forecast
NOAA has placed its new Domestic Aviation Forecast System (DAFS) into operational use, delivering hourly icing and turbulence forecasts on a high‑resolution 3‑kilometer grid. The system leverages the HRRR model and incorporates three‑dimensional radar data every 15 minutes, replacing older...
SPARC AI Appoints On-Ground Referral Agent in Ukraine to Accelerate Defense Engagement
SPARC AI Inc. appointed an on‑ground referral agent in Ukraine to speed the deployment of its Overwatch platform, which provides AI‑driven navigation and targeting in GPS‑denied environments. The agent’s established relationships with active defense personnel give the company direct access...
GalaxySpace Launches IPO, Leveraging Veteran Aerospace Talent
Chinese Satellite Startup GalaxySpace Kicks Off IPO The company’s core engineering team includes veterans from major state-backed aerospace institutions, including units under China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. and China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. Its business spans satellite mobile...
Burt Rutan’s TED Talk Sparked Boom’s Mission
This 2004 TED talk by Burt Rutan was part of my inspiration for starting Boom. I remember showing this to friends in ~2010 and saying someone needed to do something about the problems Burt called out….
GomSpace Secures 8.8 MSEK Authorization to Proceed From Unseenlabs for Next Constellation Tranche
GomSpace received an Authorization to Proceed from French RF‑maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs, valued at €815,000 (about $890,000) or 8.8 MSEK (≈ $828,000). The ATP lets GomSpace start buying long‑lead components for Unseenlabs’ next microsatellite batch, keeping the 2026‑27 launch cadence on...
Trump Alerts to Jet Fuel Shortage, Flags Heathrow High‑risk
President Trump, briefed on the jet fuel shortage, and airport hubs such as UK’s London Heathrow being categorised ‘high risk’, posted the following… https://t.co/buOwlOBtyP
OneWeb's Rare Failure: Satellite SL0179 Begins Deorbit
There have been very few failures in the OneWeb constellation; on Mar 16 OneWeb SL0179, launched in 2021, began rapid orbit lowering, presumably being retired as a result of some malfunction. https://t.co/catxyEcmju
A321XLR’s First Year Across the Atlantic
The Airbus A321XLR has completed its first year of transatlantic service, with Iberia debuting a nonstop Madrid‑Newark flight using a 182‑seat configuration. Iberia, the launch operator, now operates seven XLRs, marking a strategic shift toward long‑haul narrow‑body operations. Early performance...
U.S. Lags Behind China in Drone Delivery Development
The U.S. is falling way behind in uncrewed aerial logistics. I can't count how many of these China has in development now.
Artemis II Orion Deemed Unsafe for Flight
Artemis II Orion spacecraft (built by Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Airbus) is not safe to fly via @idlewords https://t.co/PzojTp2Xt9 https://t.co/sNN96eyWwc
Space Start-Ups Gain Siemens Nous
Siemens has joined the European Space Agency’s EPIC programme, offering its Xcelerator software suite and digital‑twin capabilities to start‑ups nurtured by ESA Business Incubation Centres. The partnership gives fledgling space firms access to virtual design, simulation and engineering tools that...
Artemis II Crew Set to Launch Around Moon Tomorrow
One more day until crew will fly around the Moon for Artemis II! Cameras are set and hands off at the pad 🤞 https://t.co/WwfKVz6YEr
JetBlue Raises Checked Bag Fee to $59, Cites Fuel Costs
JetBlue Hikes Checked Bag Fees, Blames Fuel Costs: Up To $59 For First Bag https://t.co/Hj4fajqC2D
World Briefs | Italy Refuses US Aircraft Use of Base on Sicily
Italy denied US military aircraft permission to land at Sicily’s Sigonella base, underscoring a diplomatic rift. India’s diesel exports to Southeast Asia jumped to a seven‑year high, shipping roughly 1 million tonnes—about half to Singapore and 90% by Reliance Industries. The...
Willie Walsh Finally Leads His Dream Low‑cost Airline
Willie Walsh Is Back — He Finally Gets To Run The Low Cost Carrier He Always Wanted - View from the Wing https://t.co/aXXwu3myv4
Oops! NASA Once Lost a $125 Million Spacecraft Because Engineers Forgot to Convert to Metric
The Mars Climate Orbiter, a $125 million NASA mission launched in 1998, was lost in September 1999 when it descended far too low over Mars. The failure was traced to a simple unit‑conversion mistake: Lockheed Martin’s navigation software used Imperial units instead of...
Delta Skips Starlink, Signs with Amazon Leo for Satellite In-Flight Wi-Fi Starting in 2028
Delta Air Lines announced a partnership with Amazon’s Leo satellite network to provide in‑flight Wi‑Fi beginning in 2028. The rollout will initially equip 500 domestic aircraft with Leo Ultra antennas delivering up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds, offered...
Japan Deploys First Operational Long‑Range Type‑12 Land‑to‑Ship Missiles
Japan has made its upgraded Type‑12 land‑to‑ship missile operational at Camp Kengun, giving it a 1,000‑km strike capability that can reach mainland China. The move, driven by Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, marks a shift toward offensive deterrence as Tokyo expands...
Spain Bars US Military Flights Over Iran War, Rerouting Bombers to England
Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles announced the closure of Spanish airspace to US military aircraft participating in operations against Iran. The move forces US bombers and tankers to reroute via the UK, sparking a diplomatic clash with Washington and raising questions...
AtkinsRéalis to Support Manchester Airports Group Investment Programme
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has engaged AtkinsRéalis under an eight‑year Capital Investment Consultancy Services framework to deliver consultancy, design and programme management across its airport portfolio, including Manchester, East Midlands and London Stansted. The firm will provide cost, health‑and‑safety, operational...
Pushing the A350F to the Limits: Aircraft Ground Testing Gets Underway
Airbus has begun extensive ground‑testing of the A350 freighter (A350F), a purpose‑built cargo variant that required roughly 40% new or modified test procedures. The program features co‑design between final‑assembly‑line engineers and chief designers, enabling automated wiring self‑tests that check over...
Japan Deploys New Longer-Range Missiles, Formally Designates ‘Type 25’ Systems
Japan’s ground Self‑Defense Force deployed two longer‑range missile systems on March 31, formally naming them Type 25 Surface‑to‑Ship Guided Missile (25SSM) and Type 25 Hyper‑Velocity Gliding Projectile (25HGP). The 25SSM extends the legacy Type 12’s reach to about 1,000 km, enabling strikes against naval and...
Scottish Rocket Firm Skyrora Shortlisted for British Business Awards
Edinburgh‑based Skyrora has been shortlisted for Technology Company of the Year at the British Business Awards, a competition run with The Times and The Sunday Times. The shortlist places the rocket firm alongside energy leader Octopus Energy and fintech outfits...
United's Wi‑Fi Launch Beats Delta's Amazon Choice
Delta Chose Amazon Over Starlink For Wi-Fi — But United’s Rollout Will Be Done Before This Starts - View from the Wing https://t.co/Axxau08JDi
CRP USA to Exhibit at RAPID + TCT 2026 with Windform SLS Solutions for Aerospace and Defense
CRP USA will exhibit its Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) solutions using Windform high‑performance composite materials at RAPID + TCT 2026 in Boston from April 14‑16. The showcase, located in Booth 2443‑3 within the America Makes Pavilion, targets aerospace, defense, and...
![Up To 16 Hours: British Airways' 10 Longest Nonstop Flights From London [2026]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://static0.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ba-longest.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop)
Up To 16 Hours: British Airways' 10 Longest Nonstop Flights From London [2026]
British Airways operates the world’s fifth‑largest long‑haul network, with 95 daily long‑haul departures from London as of 2026, up from 91 a year earlier. The airline’s ten longest nonstop routes from London range from a 16‑hour flight to Sydney down...
Dassault Unveils Falcon 10X in April Aerospace Edition
Ten out of ten? @Dassault_OnAir unveils the Falcon 10X - one of the features in the latest April edition of AEROSPACE #avgeek #bizav https://t.co/l3bM1d3vXc https://t.co/fDqQJgdFYW
ASCEND 2026 Assembles Space Industry’s Most Influential Voices in Washington, D.C.
AIAA’s ASCEND 2026 will convene May 19‑21 at the Washington Hilton, drawing roughly 2,000 space professionals to the nation’s capital. The three‑day event features more than 200 speakers from NASA, the FAA, Lockheed Martin, Blue Origin, academia and government, highlighting...
2026 AIAA Von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics on Learning and Controlling Autonomous Space Systems to Be Presented by Maruthi Akella...
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has selected UT Austin professor Maruthi Akella to deliver the 2026 von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics. His talk, “Opinion Dynamics, Learning, Trust, and Control of Autonomous Space Systems,” will be held on May 20 during...
2026 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce Presented by Blue Origin’s Tory Bruno During ASCEND 2026
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has awarded the 2026 David W. Thompson Lectureship in Space Commerce to Tory Bruno, former ULA CEO and now President of Blue Origin’s Blue National Security unit. Bruno will present his talk, “Transforming ULA: Shaping...
Delta In-Flight Connectivity Takes Off with Amazon Leo
Delta Air Lines has partnered with Amazon to equip its fleet with high‑speed, low‑latency internet via Amazon Leo, the company’s low‑Earth‑orbit satellite service. The rollout will begin in 2028 with an initial installation on 500 aircraft, expanding Delta’s existing AWS‑based...