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
Ignition At NASA
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced "Ignition," a strategic reset aimed at accelerating the agency’s return to the Moon and establishing a sustainable lunar presence. The plan prioritizes the Artemis program, with Artemis II slated for a crewed lunar flyby and Artemis III in low‑Earth orbit to validate lander systems before a 2028 landing. A $10 billion Phase One lunar‑base effort will pivot resources from the Gateway to surface infrastructure, while NASA signals demand for multiple commercial launch providers. The agency also commits to a $20 billion nuclear propulsion demonstration and a workforce overhaul to boost talent and reduce contractor reliance.
The Exploration Company Licenses LEAP 71's Noyron RP Technology for Rocket Engine Design
The Exploration Company (TEC) has signed a five‑year renewable agreement to license LEAP 71’s Noyron RP Large Computation Model for its next‑generation rocket engine development. Noyron RP encodes physics, engineering logic, and production constraints to autonomously generate engine component geometries from...
Wing's Bay Area Drone Delivery Plans Unclear as Sources Offer No Details
The eight supplied source articles contain no mention of Wing expanding its drone delivery service to the San Francisco Bay Area. As a result, key facts such as launch dates, fleet size, or partnership terms remain undisclosed, limiting insight into...
Symphony Space Unveils Adagio Hosted Payload Platform
Symphony Space introduced Adagio, a reusable hosted‑payload satellite that lets customers swap payloads in orbit via robotic arms and orbital transfer vehicles. The platform targets a $10,000 per kilogram price point—significantly lower than the traditional two‑to‑five‑times higher rates. Symphony aims...
EV Battery Startup Pivots to Defense Industry Amid Iran War, Weak Electric Vehicle Market
Sion Power, an Arizona battery startup led by former GM executive Pamela Fletcher, is shifting its focus from electric‑vehicle batteries to high‑energy lithium‑metal cells for defense drones. The company touts energy densities above 500 Wh/kg, far surpassing current lithium‑ion packs, and...
Miracle Survival: Flight Attendant Ejected, Lives On
Imagine getting thrown over 100 meters through the air… still strapped to your seat… and surviving. 😱 That’s exactly what happened to Air Canada Express flight attendant Solange Tremblay at LaGuardia. Her CRJ-900 hit a fire truck on the runway.....
United’s A321 Push Transforms Fleet Economics
United Airlines has dramatically accelerated its aircraft acquisition program, with a particular focus on Airbus A321 deliveries. Since 2023 the carrier’s intake has outpaced previous years, signaling a strategic shift rather than simple fleet renewal. Boeing remains the primary supplier,...
From Dublin to Dallas: How Manna Aero Is Building Drone Delivery That Scales
Irish drone logistics firm Manna Aero, founded in 2018, now operates in Dublin, Finnish cities, Dallas and Oklahoma, delivering items up to 8.5 pounds within three minutes of order. The company has logged 300,000 flights and aims for two million by year‑end,...
This Tiny Airline Just Launched London's New Longest-Ever Airbus A220 Route
Romanian carrier AnimaWings launched a new London Gatwick‑Bucharest service on an Airbus A220‑300, creating the airport’s longest scheduled A220 sector at 1,296 miles. The route, operating six times weekly, adds a seventh A220‑operated flight to Gatwick’s modest A220 portfolio. AnimaWings currently...
Montreal's MET Airport to Launch Commercial Flights This Summer
Montreal Metropolitan Airport (MET) will open a new 21,000‑square‑metre terminal on June 15, 2026, adding nine boarding bridges and a 900‑seat lounge. The facility will initially host Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation, offering coast‑to‑coast Canadian routes and space for future...
Up To 17-Hour Nonstop Flights: Cathay Pacific's 10 New Ultra-Long Routes In 2026
Cathay Pacific will launch ten new ultra‑long‑haul routes in 2026, highlighted by a 17‑hour‑plus nonstop service between Hong Kong and Dallas/Fort Worth. Daily departures rise 9% to 174, though the combined network remains below its 2018 peak after merging Cathay...
U.S. And Japan Agree On Quadrupling SM-3 Missile Production In Japan
The United States and Japan agreed to quadruple production of Standard Missile‑3 Block IIA missiles in Japan after a summit between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The deal builds on Raytheon's $8.4 billion contract expansion and aims to...
United’s 250-Plane Order Includes More Lie-Flat Seats — and Snack Bars
United Airlines announced a $250‑plus aircraft order slated for delivery by 2028, featuring the custom‑designed A321 Coastliner and the long‑range A321XLR. The new narrow‑bodies will carry additional lie‑flat Polaris suites, expanded Premium Plus seats, and economy‑class snack bars, signaling a push...
Ramon.Space, Ingrasys Aim To Fly Prototype Orbital Data Center In 2027
Ramon.Space and Taiwan‑based Ingrasys announced plans to launch a prototype orbital data‑center in 2027, with additional flights slated for 2028. The partnership builds on a 2023 agreement to produce radiation‑hardened electronics in high volume, aiming to create scalable computing infrastructure...
Can Computer Simulations Make Metal AM Certification in Aviation Faster and More Affordable?
NASA and the FAA released a 195‑page strategy that proposes using validated computer simulations to streamline certification of metal‑additive‑manufactured aviation parts. Developed by the CM4QC steering group of industry leaders and universities, the roadmap outlines a Simulation Maturity Level framework...
DiY MANPADS? Low-Cost Launcher and Guided Rocket Prototype Built with Consumer Electronics and 3D Printed Parts
Los Angeles Valley College student Alisher Khojayev unveiled a proof‑of‑concept low‑cost rocket launcher and guided rocket built from consumer electronics and 3D‑printed PLA parts, costing roughly $96 in hardware. The system uses dual ESP32 microcontrollers, an MPU6050 IMU, GPS, compass,...
Simulator Recreates LaGuardia Crash for Insightful Learning
CNN segment with pilot and instructor Aaron Murphy using a flight simulator to recreate what the Air Canada Express pilots saw in their final moments before colliding with a fire truck on LaGuardia’s runway 04. Erin Burnett hosted as Murphy...
AerCap Leases Two 777-300ERSFs to Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines has signed lease agreements with AerCap for two Boeing 777‑300ER passenger‑to‑freighter (P2F) aircraft, marking the first 777‑300ERSF to operate on the African continent. The conversions will be performed by Israel Aerospace Industries, which holds FAA and CAAI certification...
LATAM Pushing Ahead with Transatlantic Expansion
LATAM Airlines is expanding its transatlantic network, launching São Paulo‑Amsterdam flights on March 30 with four weekly B787‑9 services, increasing to six by mid‑April, and adding a São Paulo‑Brussels route in June with three weekly flights. The airline’s cargo division saw revenues rise...
Magma Aviation Appoints Hoatson to New Director Role
Specialist air cargo manager Magma Aviation has appointed Paul Hoatson as director of commercial and network planning. Hoatson, who previously led network planning and alliances for eight years, will now align commercial objectives with network strategy. The expanded role is...
NASA Aborts X‑59 Second Test Flight After Cockpit Warning
NASA’s experimental X‑59 quiet‑supersonic jet ended its second test flight after nine minutes when a cockpit warning forced an immediate return to Edwards Air Force Base. The early landing, while safe, delays the program’s plan to expand the flight envelope...
China's Smart Dragon‑3 Completes First Sea‑Launch, Deploys CentiSpace‑02 Satellites
China launched its Smart Dragon‑3 rocket from an offshore platform near Haiyang, Shandong, sending the CentiSpace‑02 satellite cluster into orbit. The mission, conducted by Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, represents the first sea‑based launch for the Smart Dragon series and signals...
US Navy Returns Historic VH-3A “Marine One” To the Skies for Egyptian Air Force
The U.S. Navy’s PMA‑226 program has completed a full modernization of the VH‑3A Sea King helicopter, originally Marine One, and returned it to the Egyptian Air Force. The upgrade adds a glass‑panel avionics suite, new electrical systems, and a custom...
Expanding Route Network at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport
Frankfurt‑Hahn Airport is expanding its summer schedule with three new destinations—Rabat, Timișoara and Tuzla—bringing the total to 38 routes and up to 130 weekly movements. Ryanair will launch twice‑weekly service to Morocco’s capital on April 1, while Wizz Air adds twice‑weekly flights...
Russia Intends to Deploy Additional Systems in Belarus
Russia plans to install four ground‑control stations for long‑range strike drones in Belarus, expanding a network first deployed in late 2025. The stations will enable rapid UAV‑guided attacks on Ukraine’s northern regions, from Kyiv to Volyn. Belarus, a long‑time Russian...
Lawrence Scoops President Role at ATSG’s CAM
Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) appointed Andy Lawrence as president of its Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) leasing unit. Lawrence will oversee global leasing, portfolio optimisation, customer relationships, and growth initiatives as ATSG expands its leasing, airline operations, and MRO capabilities....
Airfield Upgrade Enhances Safety and Capabilities of Wellington Airport
Wellington Airport in New Zealand has installed an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) at both runway ends, adding a safety net for aircraft overruns. The new EMAS beds, each 55 × 90 m and made of over 3,000 U.S.-manufactured blocks, effectively extend the usable...
Pulsar Appoints Enzo Brizzi to Grow Enterprise Connectivity in Africa
Pulsar International has named Enzo Brizzi as Director of Enterprise Market Expansion & Partnerships to spearhead the company’s growth in Africa. Brizzi, a veteran with more than 25 years in satellite and telecom, will drive strategic alliances and scalable operating...
How Airports Are Accelerating the Energy Revolution
Airports worldwide are moving from passive energy consumers to active managers, deploying a mix of renewable generation, electrification, and emerging fuels. Venice Marco Polo Airport is installing 70 acres of agrivoltaic solar to generate 80 GWh annually, while San Francisco International is...
US-Based Katalyst Selects Ariane 6 to Launch Satellite Servicing Spacecraft
Arizona‑based Katalyst Space Technologies has signed a launch contract with Arianespace to send its NEXUS‑1 satellite‑servicing spacecraft to geostationary orbit on an Ariane 6 rocket in the second half of 2027. NEXUS‑1 will dock with GEO satellites to install new hardware,...
El Al Calls for Reopening of Eilat After New Tel Aviv Limits
El Al Israel Airlines has publicly urged the Israeli government to lift the recent flight‑capacity limits imposed on Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and to reopen Eilat’s Ramon Airport for commercial service. The carrier argues that the restrictions are choking passenger flow...
NASA Plans to Send a Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft to Mars in 2028
NASA announced plans to launch the Space Reactor‑1 (SR‑1) Freedom, a nuclear‑powered spacecraft, to Mars in December 2028. The 20‑kilowatt fission reactor, originally built for the Lunar Gateway, will generate electricity for propulsion and will carry three small helicopters that will...
IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express to Revolutionise Travel From USA, UK & UAE as Jewar International Airport Opens –...
Jewar International Airport, opening on March 28, 2026 near Greater Noida, will relieve chronic congestion at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express will launch extensive domestic and nascent international services, linking the USA, UK...
Bits: BeOnd Launches London – Maldives Flights, Get 2000 Virgin Points with a Railcard
beOnd, an all‑business class airline backed by Maldives SIMDI Group and UAE’s Arabesque, announced a new London‑Maldives service launching on 16 December with a Dubai refuel stop. The thrice‑weekly flights will depart Heathrow midday and return early morning, priced at about...
Beyond the Rocket: The Digital Infrastructure of the Artemis II Mission
Artemis II will showcase not only NASA’s most powerful launch vehicle but also a modernized digital backbone built by Booz Allen. The contractor is delivering upgraded communications, cloud‑based ground systems, edge‑computing capabilities, and AI tools that let spacecraft operate with limited Earth...
Isaacman, Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman was praised at the Washington Space Business Roundtable luncheon for revamping the Artemis lunar program. Rep. Mike Haridopolos called him a “James Bond for America,” noting a dramatic turnaround in NASA’s public sentiment over the past year....
Colombia’s C‑130 Crash Leaves Up to 80 Soldiers Dead, Raising Safety Concerns
A Colombian Air Force C‑130 Hercules went down moments after take‑off from Puerto Leguizamo, killing as many as 80 soldiers out of the 125 personnel on board. The disaster, the deadliest single‑incident loss for Colombia’s armed forces in years, has...
Testing Shows Progress on Key Air Force Missiles and Bombs
The Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation released its 2025 annual report, highlighting progress on four Air Force munitions programs. The GBU‑57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, after successful combat drops on Iranian nuclear sites, was removed from DOT&E oversight and...
ATC Strain Boosts LaGuardia‑exposed Airline Short Opportunities
Macro:🚨 ATC strain at hubs; Key: controller juggling odor-emergency, runway incursions up; Risks: staffing, fatigue, complexity; Trade: short airlines with LaGuardia exposure. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA. More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
SES Orders 28 High‑power MEO Satellites for 100 Gbps Optical Network
.@SES: We've ordered 28 20-kW sats from @K2Space for 8,000-km MEO orbit (same as as SES's O3b mPower), four orbital planes, pole to pole. SES builds the payloads. Up to 100Gbps optical data relay, interoperable w/ other constellations. Will @defis_eu...
History of the Iranian Space Program
Iran’s space program has evolved from modest satellite‑communication experiments in the 1960s to a dual‑track effort that now fields both civilian and military launch capabilities. In 2009 the country became the ninth nation to place a satellite, Omid, into orbit...
Isaacman's Speech Praises NASA Transparency Over Cover‑ups
This is the speech Isaacman is presently giving. What is refreshing about this is that it acknowledges NASA’s shortcomings rather than minimizing or covering them up.
NASA Unveils “Ignition” Moon Exploration Roadmap
NASA's day-long meeting, starting at 9:00 am ET this morning (Mar 24), is "Ignition: NASA's Plan for the Moon." https://t.co/JDGO8sMTFt
ACCC Monitoring Impact on Domestic Aviation Amid Middle East Conflict
The ACCC has flagged the domestic airline market for close monitoring after the Middle East conflict disrupted international routes and lifted global jet‑fuel prices. While refunds for affected flights depend on individual booking terms, the regulator warns that prolonged fuel...
NASA Switches Progress MS-33 Docking to Manual After Antenna Failure
NASA: All attempts to deploy 1 of 2 Progress MS-33 Kurs rendezvous antenna did not succeed, so the docking will be switched to manual mode as first planned yesterday... Progress MS-33 is now tracked by an ISS camera: https://t.co/P6h1cwOAXH...
NASA Announces Major Program Updates at 9 Am ET
Expecting major news today across a broad range of programs at NASA. Event here at NASA HQ starts at 9 am ET. https://t.co/MGTEqhfgfV
First Space Fighter Satellite Promises Agile In‑Orbit Combat
Fascinating read on company building the first space 'fighter/pursuit' satellite for in-orbit combat - the True Anomaly Jackal. Agile and manoeuvrable - but left unsaid - what does it do when it gets on an enemy satellite's 'six o'clock'? Kinetic?...
Aerospace-Grade Capsule Survives Magnitude‑9 Quakes, Tsunamis
Aerospace-Grade Survival Capsule Withstands Magnitude-9 Quakes and Tsunamis by @_fluxfeeds #TechForGood #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/Uzhy2xD7cT
Unveiling Plesetsk's Secret Unannounced Orbital Launch
OK, we will try to chronicle the curious case of an unprecedented/unannounced orbital launch from Plesetsk on the linked page (work in progress, of course): https://t.co/zaum1S7eWh
Unannounced Soyuz Launch Suspected, Details Remain
Possible launch of Soyuz rocket with Rassvet satellites at about 1800 UTC Mar 23. Russia has, unusually, made no announcement but there are observations downrange of rocket plume and claimed signals from a payload. Situation currently uncertain, no Space Force...