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
China Launches Two Radar Satellites
China successfully launched two synthetic‑aperture radar satellites aboard a Long March 2D from Taiyuan, expanding its all‑weather imaging capability for both civilian and military use. The launch adds to China’s fourteen orbital missions in 2026, still far behind SpaceX’s thirty‑seven launches that dominate the global market. State media omitted details about the toxic hypergolic rocket stages that fell within China. The article also promotes “Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8,” now available as an ebook and free‑trial audiobook.
Sharing Apollo 12 Gem, Seeking Lost TV Transmissions
Writing a talk that includes this gem from Apollo 12 so thought I’d share it! Also if you know where those TV transmissions might live let me know, Google has truly become crap as a search engine. #author #history #space...
Cabinet Approves Modified UDAN Scheme with Rs 28,840 Crore Outlay to Boost Regional Connectivity
India's Union Cabinet approved a ten‑year Modified UDAN scheme with a total outlay of roughly $3.5 billion (Rs 28,840 crore). The plan earmarks $1.46 billion for upgrading 100 airports, $439 million for 200 modern helipads, and $1.2 billion in Viability Gap Funding to sustain regional airline...
Satlantis Earnings Grow Alongside Demand for Earth-Observation Satellites
Satlantis posted 2025 revenue of €47.8 million (about $56.4 million), with EBITDA of €14.4 million (≈$16.9 million). More than half of the income came from small‑satellite sales and operations, while optical payloads grew to 30% of total revenue. The company announced a FlexSat program...
South Korea Starts Serial Production of Indigenous KF‑21 Boramae Fighter
South Korea has rolled out the first KF‑21 Boramae from its new assembly line, signalling the start of serial production for the country’s domestically developed fighter. The milestone underscores Seoul’s push for self‑reliance in advanced defense aerospace amid regional security...
NASA Unveils $20 B Ignition Plan: Moon Base, Faster Artemis, Nuclear Mars Probe
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced a $20 billion, seven‑year roadmap to build a permanent lunar base, accelerate Artemis launches to a twice‑yearly cadence and launch a nuclear‑propelled Mars mission by 2028. The plan reshapes U.S. space policy, redirects Gateway resources and...
American Airlines Is Serving $1 Shelf-Stable Pasta In First Class — While Selling A Premium Comeback
American Airlines is serving a $1 shelf‑stable three‑cheese pasta on its Salt Lake City‑Philadelphia First‑Class route, a meal that must be pre‑loaded due to the airline’s lack of local catering contracts. The pasta, originally priced at 99 rupees (about US$1.05), is...
HTS Market Set to Reach $76B as Industry Enters Terabit Era
Novaspace’s latest HTS report projects global high‑throughput satellite demand to reach 218 Tbps and service revenues to climb to $76 billion by 2034, more than double current levels. The surge is fueled by rapid NGSO constellation growth, especially Starlink, which has reset...
ST Engineering iDirect and G&S SatCom Win Satellite Innovation Group Cooperation of the Year Award for Advancing Unified Network and...
ST Engineering iDirect and G&S SatCom have been honored with the Satellite Innovation Group Cooperation of the Year award for integrating G&S SatConnect® into iDirect’s next‑generation Intuition ground system. The combined platform unifies network operations, service management, and OSS/BSS through...
Reimagining America’s R&D Framework: Valuing Our Laboratories and Testing Facilities as National Treasures
The AIAA calls on Congress to treat U.S. aerospace and defense laboratories, wind tunnels, and test ranges as national treasures, urging sustained capital investment and lifecycle stewardship. A GAO report shows the federal real‑property maintenance backlog ballooned from $171 billion in...
Dutch F-35s Deploy to US for High-Tempo Combat Training
Dutch F‑35A fighters have deployed to Hill Air Force Base in Utah for the largest‑ever Dutch training detachment, participating in Exercise Lightning Forge with the U.S. 388th Fighter Wing. Over March, the squadron flew two daily sortie waves, using live...
GE Aerospace Commits $1 Billion to U.S. Manufacturing Growth for Second Consecutive Year
GE Aerospace announced a second consecutive $1 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing for 2026, targeting both commercial and defense engine production. The plan includes hiring 5,000 additional workers, bringing total new hires to 10,000 since 2025. Over $275 million will upgrade defense...
The Q1 Space Tech Briefing: SpaceX's IPO, NASA's New Mandate, and What's Next
Beyond Earth Ventures is hosting a Q1 Office Hours webinar on March 31, featuring founding partner Alexandra Vidyuk and managing director Patrick Beatty. The session will dissect the potential SpaceX IPO, unpack NASA's latest moon‑base initiatives, and analyze current M&A...
Airbus A350: The Gap Between Ambition and Reality
Airbus’s flagship A350 program has missed its delivery targets dramatically. While the company promised nine aircraft per month by the end of 2025, actual output averaged five per month, yielding only 55‑57 units instead of the planned 108. The shortfall...
Norway and Iceland to Join the EU’s GOVSATCOM and IRIS2 Programmes
Norway and Iceland have signed agreements to join the European Union’s GOVSATCOM and IRIS2 secure communications programmes. GOVSATCOM, launched in January, provides interim secure satellite capacity, while the €10.6 billion IRIS2 project will deploy about 290 satellites by 2030. Iceland will...
GomSpace Joins Danish LUNA Consortium to Advance Nanosatellite Antenna Performance
Denmark’s LUNA consortium—Aalborg University, Pri‑Dana Elektronik and GomSpace—has launched a three‑year effort to create low‑loss, multiband nanosatellite antennas with mechanical beam steering. Backed by Innovation Fund Denmark, the project receives roughly $3 million in funding, with GomSpace contributing about $1.1 million. The...
US Air Force Awards Boeing $2.4B Contract for E-7A Wedgetail AWACS Production
The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $2.4 billion contract to transition the E‑7A Wedgetail from prototype to full‑rate production. The award includes a $2.3 billion exercised option and a $99 million modification for developmental jets and radar components. The Wedgetail, built on...
OrbitsIQ Global and Wrocław Tech Validate E-SSA Waveform for Space-Based IoT
OrbitsIQ Global announced the validation of its Enhanced Spread Spectrum Aloha (E‑SSA) waveform, co‑developed with Wrocław Tech and backed by ESA. The new protocol lets up to 500 devices share a single 4 MHz channel, processing roughly 30,000 frames per second...
USAF KC-46 Dislodged Asphalt at Alaska Airport During Engine Test
A U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus tanker created a 25‑foot‑wide hole in Fairbanks International Airport’s runway during high‑power engine runs in July 2025, flinging asphalt debris up to 100 feet away. The mishap, caused by exhaust heat degrading the asphalt sealant,...
SpaceX IPO Rumors Spark 5% Surge in Satellite and Space‑Linked Stocks
Rumors that Elon Musk's SpaceX will file an IPO prospectus this week ignited buying across space‑linked equities, lifting EchoStar 5%, Rocket Lab 3% and AST SpaceMobile 3%. Analysts estimate the offering could raise more than $75 billion at a valuation above...
Aeromexico Returns to Quito with Four Weekly Flights
Aeromexico has reinstated its nonstop service between Mexico City and Quito, launching four weekly Boeing 737 MAX 8 flights. The inaugural return flight was marked by a ceremony attended by Quiport’s CEO Ramón Miró and Aeromexico’s North‑Latin America VP Pepe Zapata. The...
Are We Ready to Mine the Moon?
Interlune, a lunar‑resource startup, announced that its first customers are ready to purchase helium‑3 extracted from the Moon. Helium‑3 is touted as a fuel for next‑generation nuclear fusion reactors that produce no long‑lived radioactive waste. The company highlights the technical...
Lockheed Martin Secures $700M F-35A Production Contract From Denmark
Lockheed Martin secured a $700.4 million contract in March 2026 to produce 16 additional F‑35A Lightning II jets for Denmark, raising the Royal Danish Air Force’s fleet to 43 aircraft. The agreement covers long‑lead parts for Lots 20‑21 and will be executed primarily...
How Many Missiles Does Iran Have Left?
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the ongoing U.S.-Israeli air campaign has "completely obliterated" Iran's ballistic missile program, analysts say a substantial portion of the arsenal remains. Roughly 1,400 missiles have been launched, and experts estimate Iran retains about...
Air China to Restart Beijing Delhi Service From April 21
Air China will restart direct Beijing‑Delhi flights on April 21, operating a thrice‑weekly Airbus A330 service that includes onward connections to the United States and Canada. The carrier becomes the fourth airline to launch routes after India‑China passenger flights resumed in November. Over...
TransDigm: Mini-Monopolies at 30,000 Feet
TransDigm Group has built a portfolio of niche aerospace components that function as mini‑monopolies, giving the company strong pricing power and margins above 30 %. Its aggressive acquisition strategy—over 30 bolt‑on purchases in the last ten years—has driven compound earnings growth...
What Has Happened to Iran’s Top-Tier Missiles?
Iran’s most sophisticated missile systems, including the Khorramshahr and Shahab‑6, have stalled in development due to intensified sanctions, supply‑chain disruptions, and technical setbacks. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has shifted focus to upgrading older short‑range rockets rather than fielding new...
Eurobites: Vodafone Claims Irish First with Satellite Video Call
Vodafone Ireland completed Ireland’s first mobile video call routed through an AST SpaceMobile satellite using a regular smartphone, showcasing a sovereign‑network alternative to Starlink. Meanwhile, KKR and Global Infrastructure Partners have tabled bids of €6‑8 bn (≈$6.9‑$9.2 bn) for Patrick Drahi’s XpFibre...
Airbus Mulls ATR Final Assembly in India
Airbus has signaled that it may establish a final‑assembly line for its 50‑percent‑owned ATR regional turboprop in India, marking the first such consideration by the European manufacturer. The move coincides with India’s revamped Regional Connectivity Scheme, which earmarks roughly $3.6 billion...
Lawmakers Question NASA’s Shifting Vision for CLDs
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman unveiled a new plan to transition from the International Space Station to Commercial LEO Destinations (CLDs) by adding a core module that can power and support up to two commercial segments before detaching. Lawmakers on the...
Agnikul Tests New Agnite Rocket Engine, Claims It Can Be 3D Printed in Just 7 Days
Agnikul Cosmos successfully hot‑fired its Agnite booster engine, a one‑metre, single‑piece Inconel rocket engine printed in just seven days. The monolithic design eliminates welding, machining and assembly, cutting manufacturing cost to roughly one‑tenth of conventional methods. The engine uses electric‑motor‑driven...
British Airways Adds Extra Flights to Delhi, Mumbai
British Airways announced additional capacity on its London‑Delhi and London‑Mumbai routes through the end of May. Starting April 7, a third daily flight will operate on the Delhi‑Heathrow sector, and a third daily service to Mumbai begins May 15. The airline will...
Boeing 777-8 Freighter Mid-Fuselage and Wings Come Together
Boeing announced that the first 777‑8 freighter’s mid‑fuselage has been joined to its 235‑foot composite wings, marking a key assembly milestone at the Everett final‑assembly plant. Production of the 777‑8F began in July 2025, but the program’s market launch has been...
Skyways – Head of Flight
Skyways, an Austin‑based autonomous cargo aircraft startup, announced a $37 million contract with the U.S. Air Force to expand its unmanned logistics platform. Backed by investors such as Y Combinator, the company designs, builds, and operates its aircraft for commercial and...
LATAM
Lula is at LATAM’s São Carlos MRO facility... undisputed leader in aeronautical maintenance across South America. They’re highlighting the LATAM-Embraer deal for 24 firm + 50 option E195-E2 jets (deliveries kicking off late 2026). LATAM’s already pouring ~US$4B into Brazil...
Watch ESA Astronaut Sławosz’s Talk at CERN
On 12 March, ESA astronaut Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski delivered a talk at CERN about his 26 June‑14 July 2025 stay aboard the International Space Station. He detailed the Ignis mission, a Polish‑led scientific program conducted with ESA, and explained how a CERN‑developed space‑radiation monitor was installed...
Cathay Pacific Hikes Fuel Surcharge 34%, Reviews Biweekly
Cathay Pacific to raise fuel surcharge again from April 1st, and will review/revise every two weeks. Fuel surcharge to rise by 34%. Via Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-26/cathay-raises-fuel-levies-again-to-review-them-every-two-weeks
Dayton Airport Auctions FedEx Plane Starting at $6,400
Just in case you're looking to purchase a plane, Dayton Airport is selling a FedEx plane via @liquidityinc' auction website. Current bid is $6,400. https://t.co/9aGEsWV6Tr
PrimeFlight to Be Alaska’s Cargo Handling Agent for New US-UK Route
Alaska Airlines will launch a daily nonstop wide‑body service between Seattle and London Heathrow on May 21, 2026, and has appointed PrimeFlight Cargo as its handling agent at LHR. PrimeFlight will also begin cargo handling for Alaska at Sacramento International...
Soyuz‑5 Launch Delayed to March 29, Flight Early April
The rollout of the first Soyuz-5 rocket to launch pad Site 45 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, was postponed from today to March 29, in turn, pushing its inaugural flight to April 2, at the earliest, according to Kazakh media. Context: https://t.co/DBcHRiQe36 https://t.co/S8p6AAE3IL
United Transforms CRJ‑200 Into Premium CRJ‑450, Cuts Seats
As demand for premium travel continues to surge, United is not resting on its laurels. Enter the CRJ-450, a lower-capacity CRJ-200 in disguise. Seat count drops by nine seats to 41 including seven First Class seats and four rows of...
Florida’s Digital Tower Boosted by FREQUENTIS X10 Implementation
Bartow Executive Airport has installed Frequentis' X10 digital‑tower communications platform within its newly renovated Digital Tower Operations Center. The solution consolidates voice, recording and ATIS data onto a single, future‑ready platform, replacing legacy systems. Designed to boost resilience, safety and...
China Demonstrates Atlas Drone Swarm with AI Combat Upgrade
China unveils full-process demonstration of Atlas drone swarm operations system, expert highlights algorithm-enabled combat upgrades https://t.co/KM8FySikPc
MNOs Embrace Neutral-Host Satellite Constellations
.@MDA_space CEO @MGreenley details status of @Telesat Lightspeed, @Globalstar's 17-sat replacement order and Globalstar's 50+ satellite C-3 constellation and a 'neutral host' constellation idea that MNOs seem to like. @Apple.https://t.co/QiIcACD0Zf https://t.co/EJDK27EjeF
Russia to Deploy Combat Drones to Iran, Signaling First Direct Military Aid
Russia announced it will begin delivering combat drones to Iran, the first clear evidence of Moscow providing direct military assistance in the regional war. The move heightens tensions in a volatile market and could reshape defense procurement across emerging economies.
Brazil Unveils First Domestically Assembled Supersonic Fighter, the F‑39E Gripen
Brazil has unveiled the F‑39E Gripen, its first domestically assembled supersonic fighter, marking the first time a Latin American nation has produced such an aircraft. The jet is part of a $4 billion deal for 36 fighters, with 15 built locally,...
FlyFocus Unveils KURIER Unmanned Helicopter
Polish defence firm FlyFocus has unveiled KURIER, a 600‑kg class unmanned helicopter capable of transporting over 200 kg of supplies for special‑force missions. Backed by the Polish Ministry of Defence, the programme—valued at roughly $5.5 million—has progressed to Technology Readiness Level 6...
Chinese Startup Demonstrates Flexible Robotic Arm for On‑Orbit Refueling
A Beijing‑based startup successfully tested a flexible, reconfigurable robotic arm capable of handling multiple fuel line geometries in micro‑gravity. The demonstration marks the first on‑orbit refueling trial of a flexible manipulator and could accelerate satellite servicing and deep‑space logistics. Details...
British Airways To Offer Pilots Bonus For Burning Less Fuel: Smart Or Risky?
British Airways will introduce a pilot incentive program that offers up to a 1% bonus on basic salary if collective fuel‑burn reductions meet a target of 60,000 tonnes of CO₂ below 2025 levels, slated to begin in 2027 after a...