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
KC-135 Crash in Iraq Spurs Calls for Communications Upgrades
On March 12, a KC-135 tanker crashed in western Iraq, killing six airmen, while a second tanker landed safely in Israel. The tragedy revived calls from former Air Mobility Command leaders to modernize the aging fleet’s communications, highlighting limited battlespace awareness and reliance on outdated civilian systems. The Air Force has requested $124 million in the FY‑2026 budget and an additional $84 million in the reconciliation bill for connectivity upgrades, yet only about half of the roughly 400 KC‑135s have the Real‑Time Information in the Cockpit (RTIC) data link. Former AMC chief Mike Minihan and other senior officers argue that without full Link 16 and modern data links, tanker crews face heightened risk in contested environments.
Venezuela, Dominican Republic Resume Air Connectivity
Venezuela and the Dominican Republic have announced the restoration of scheduled air services, ending a months‑long suspension that disrupted tourism and business travel. The resumption involves multiple carriers, including Laser Airlines, which will operate MD‑82 aircraft on the Caracas‑Santo Domingo...
Boeing’s Certification Logjam Begins to Break with FAA Approval of 787 Upgrade
Boeing secured FAA approval for increased maximum take‑off weight (iMTOW) variants of its 787‑9 and 787‑10 wide‑bodies, the first major certification since the 737 Max 8200 in 2021. The 787‑9 gains 10,000 lb, reaching 571,500 lb, while the 787‑10 adds 14,000 lb to 574,000 lb....
AirBaltic Partners with InterLnkd to Launch Dynamic Inflight Shopping Experience
Latvian carrier airBaltic has teamed with InterLnkd to embed the AirMall digital marketplace into its Starlink‑powered Skynet Wi‑Fi portal, creating the first global, dynamic inflight shopping experience. The platform gives passengers access to more than 20,000 brands on their personal...
EnduroSat and MetaSensing Partner to Accelerate SAR Satellite Access
EnduroSat and MetaSensing have formed a partnership to deliver a fully European "constellation‑as‑a‑service" synthetic aperture radar (SAR) solution. The collaboration couples MetaSensing’s X‑band PhoeniX and StarSAR‑X radar payloads with EnduroSat’s FRAME‑15 and FRAME‑24 satellites, offering 0.125‑to‑0.5 m resolution. By standardizing integration...
Gulfstream Delivers 200th G600 Aircraft
Gulfstream announced the delivery of its 200th G600 business jet, a model first delivered in August 2019. The fleet has accumulated more than 197,000 flight hours, 87,000 landings and set 95 city‑pair speed records, including a 7‑hour‑42‑minute Aspen‑to‑London City run....
Scrubbing Away Lunar Dust
Researchers at Orbital Mining and Space Dust Research & Technologies are concluding tests of Lunar SCRUB, an electrostatic cleaning device that uses an electron beam to lift moon dust from surfaces. The prototype, about one‑third the size of a loaf of...
Two Pilots Killed as Air Canada Jet Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia
A Jazz Aviation regional jet operating for Air Canada struck a Port Authority fire truck on LaGuardia’s runway shortly after landing, killing the pilot and co‑pilot. The crash injured dozens, forced the airport’s closure until at least 2 p.m., and triggered...
CubeSpace Challenges Vertical Integration with Record ADCS Production Milestone
On March 23, 2026 CubeSpace announced a production surge, shipping 2,118 standalone ADCS units and 71 mission‑tailored systems in January‑February. The South African firm claims its modular ADCS can cut costs by 50% compared with in‑house solutions, while maintaining an 8‑12‑week lead...
Terra Drone Announces Strategic Entry Into the Defense Equipment Market, As Drones Emerge as Game-Changers in Modern Defense
Terra Drone Corp., a Japanese leader in drone and urban air mobility technology, announced a full‑scale entry into the defense equipment market and will establish a U.S. subsidiary, Terra Defense, by the end of fiscal 2026. The move leverages the...
Radiate Engineering & Design Introduces FlyBlocks – a Production-Ready Structuralairframe Platform for Long-Range VTOL UAV Applications
Radiate Engineering & Design AG of Zurich launched FlyBlocks, a production‑ready structural airframe platform targeting professional B2B VTOL UAVs focused on long‑range missions. The modular system includes three scalable models—VT‑14, VT‑22 and VT‑30—covering MTOW from 5 kg to 28 kg and ranges...
Photon‑propelled Probes Could Reach Tau Ceti in 60 Years
While we don't have access to the astrophage from ProjectHailMary in real life, scientists are designing space probes that rely on the same basic principle it uses to travel between the stars: very low mass objects accelerated to very high...
The ISS Is Retiring: Is Axiom Station a Perfect Bridge to Commercial Space?
NASA plans to retire the International Space Station by 2030, ending more than 25 years of continuous human presence in orbit. Rather than building a government‑owned replacement, the agency will buy services from private platforms to cut costs and sustain...
Pendleton UAS Range and Gambit Partner to Deliver Red Force as aService for Counter UAS Testing and Training
Pendleton UAS Range and AI‑focused firm Gambit have teamed up to deliver a Red Force as a Service offering for counter‑UAS testing, validation, and operator training. The integrated capability creates realistic, coordinated multi‑aircraft threat scenarios within a controlled, FAA‑approved airspace,...
Steadicopter Launches Dedicated UAS Academy to Train GlobalOperators and Technicians on Advanced Rotary UAV Missions
Steadicopter, a developer of rotary unmanned aerial systems, announced the launch of its Steadicopter UAS Academy, a global training program for operators, mission commanders and technicians. The curriculum emphasizes the unique capabilities of rotary UAVs—persistent hover, precision deployment and flexibility—across...
Airports Facing Financial Challenges
U.S. airports are confronting a perfect storm of financial strain, operational disruptions, and aging infrastructure. A recent fatal collision at LaGuardia highlighted safety concerns amid a Department of Homeland Security funding lapse that left TSA agents unpaid and caused long...
The Bumpy US Air Travel Recovery?
The U.S. Department of Transportation released its 2025 T‑100 airline traffic data through December, and AirInsight’s forecasting model shows domestic passenger volumes rebounding strongly but losing momentum. While year‑over‑year growth remains positive, the model struggles to shed pandemic‑era assumptions, indicating...
Mayor Moreno, Regional Leaders Share Details of Master Plan for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Mayor Helena Moreno and regional leaders unveiled the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) Master Plan, a ten‑year roadmap to accommodate projected growth to 8.6‑9.7 million departing passengers. The plan calls for a second terminal, 10‑15 new gates, upgraded roadways,...
Epic Fury Is Now in the Fourth Week, with More U.S. Assets Deploying
Operation Epic Fury entered its fourth week as the United States expanded its force posture in the Middle East. New deployments include up to 24 F‑16C Block 50 fighters from Misawa and Shaw bases, additional EA‑18G Growlers and E‑2D Hawkeyes, and...
Space Tech: SpinLaunch – The Disruptors
SpinLaunch is developing a kinetic‑launch system that uses a 100‑meter vacuum chamber to spin payloads, potentially cutting rocket fuel and structural mass by up to 70 %. The company raised $30 million in a Series C round, bringing total funding to $203 million, and...
Russian Rocket en Route to ISS Suffers Major Antenna Glitch, Triggering Remote-Control Astronaut 'Backup Plan'
Russia’s Progress 94 cargo freighter suffered an antenna deployment failure shortly after liftoff, preventing its planned autonomous docking with the International Space Station. NASA announced that cosmonaut Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov will pilot the vehicle manually using an undisclosed backup system. The spacecraft...
![Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Mar 23, 2026] Look Ahead W/ Byron Callan](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/articles/a2883ea803703e9d9eb32e7a418c4dfe.webp)
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Mar 23, 2026] Look Ahead W/ Byron Callan
President Trump postponed his five‑day ultimatum to strike Iran’s power grid after positive diplomatic talks, extending the window for the Strait of Hormuz to return to normal traffic. The delay comes as the administration prepares a $200 billion war supplemental and...
Predicting Hypersonic Boundary-Layer Transition on Complex Geometries Virtual Collection Published
An international virtual collection of experimental and numerical studies on hypersonic laminar‑turbulent transition has been published. The compilation aggregates data from multiple research groups focusing on complex vehicle geometries. It provides a shared database to benchmark and improve predictive models...
IndiGo Picks Ex-Air India Express CEO for Chief Strategy Officer
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has appointed former Air India Express chief Aloke Singh as its new Chief Strategy Officer, effective April 6. The move follows the abrupt resignation of CEO Pieter Elbers and a December operational crisis that forced thousands of flight cancellations...
Air Canada Express Jet Collides with Firetruck at LaGuardia, Killing Two Pilots and Injuring Dozens
An Air Canada Express flight operated by Jazz Aviation struck a firetruck on a LaGuardia runway, killing the two pilots and injuring dozens of the 72 passengers and four crew members. Investigators are probing controller staffing and shift practices amid...
FAA Wants Feedback on UAS Airport and Droneport Integration
The Federal Aviation Administration has opened a public comment period, ending April 22, to gather input on how unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) should be incorporated into existing airports and emerging droneports. The request targets airports, operators, and other stakeholders to...
United 737 Tries To Take Off On Runway Edge, Pilots Pretend Nothing Happened
United Airlines flight UA1394, a Boeing 737‑700, attempted a midfield takeoff from Chicago O’Hare’s runway 10L on March 19, 2026, but the crew aligned the aircraft with the left‑hand edge lights instead of the centerline. The takeoff was aborted at...
ThinKom Showcases Modular MILSATCOM Architecture for Contested Environments
At the 2026 Satellite Show in Washington, D.C., ThinKom Solutions unveiled a modular, high‑mobility ground architecture designed to replace static satellite command centers. The system, built around the Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VICTS) phased‑array antenna, can connect to GEO,...
Live Updates on LaGuardia Airport Incident
What Has Happened at LaGuardia Airport? Join me live over on Mentour Pilot YT as the story develops. (Link in story) #BreakingNews #AviationNews #aviation #airplane #mentourpilot
Finland's ReOrbit Secures $173M Deal for First GEO Satellites
Finland's @ReOrbitOy sells first 2 GEO sats, to @thelibragroup's SLI leasing company, for $173M. SLI says ultimate users/orbital slots TBD. Deal follow's December 'heads of agreement' w/ startup GEO sat builder #AscendArc, also for 2 satellites, for $200M. https://t.co/LQZFwwRbdM https://t.co/VZFZgfbJV5
ATC Manufacturing, U.S. Air Force Contract Grows Larger-Scale, High-Rate TPC Capabilities
ATC Manufacturing secured a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract to develop a large‑format hydraulic press capable of high‑rate thermoplastic composite (TPC) processing for parts up to 10 ft × 5 ft. The program, partnered with Anduril Industries and Toray Advanced Composites, aims to...
USAF Unveils Stealth Tanks, Pods,
F-22, B-52 Flight Testing Over The Mojave Showcases Advanced USAF Developments We've gotten our best look yet at new stealthy underwing tanks and sensor pods for the F-22, and the USAF's new AGM-181 nuclear cruise missile. https://t.co/sd23IzPPeJ
NYC Collision Shows Verbal Routing Is Dangerously Outdated
The aircraft collision in NYC could have been easily avoided. We fact that we still route aircraft just with verbal communication is absurd. Routing could all be automated and even the piloting of the aircraft could be automated.
OHB SE Exceeds Profitability Targets with Record €3.2 Billion Backlog
OHB SE reported FY 2025 results that beat its profitability guidance, with revenue climbing 21% to €1.25 bn (≈ $1.36 bn) and adjusted EBIT rising 17% to €84 m (≈ $92 m). The company’s order backlog reached a record €3.19 bn (≈ $3.48 bn), driven by a €248 m (≈ $270 m) ESA...
Son at LGA; Flight Attendant Ejected Survives
My son is at LGA right now. Here’s the view. It’s sad what happened. I can’t believe it happened. So happy to hear the flight attendant who was ejected from the plane survived. https://t.co/2KY0wwxweb
Boom's New SEM Paves Way for World's Best
We just ordered Boom's first Scanning Electron Microscope. Extremely serious materials development is now happening. I think by the end of this year Boom will have the most advanced turbine blade manufacturing anywhere in the world.
De Havilland Canada Delivers 1,000th Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada has delivered its 1,000th DHC‑6 Twin Otter, handing the aircraft to Colombian regional carrier SATENA. The milestone underscores a production run that began in 1965 and highlights the model’s enduring appeal in remote‑operating markets. SATENA now operates...
Human ATC Errors Cost Lives; Automation Needed
Unpopular opinion: Today two pilots lost their lives because we have an air traffic control system inherently vulnerable to human error. Even great humans make mistakes sometimes. Machines should be issuing clearances, not human controllers.
Politicians' Stress-Testing Risks Lives, Must End
Would the LGA crash or last year's Reagan crash that killed 67 have happened if ATC wasn't so stressed? I don't know. I do know politicians are stress-testing vital systems with our lives. Enough is fucking enough. This is no way...
NASA to Provide Update on Implementation of National Space Policy
NASA will host a public event on March 24, 2026 at its Washington headquarters to detail how the agency is executing President Donald J. Trump’s National Space Policy. The agenda includes remarks by Administrator Jared Isaacman and high‑level panels on Artemis II, the goal of...
Eyewitness Claims Possible ICBM Launch Near Plesetsk
There is an eyewitness report on the Novosti Kosmonavtiki web forum from the Ukhta area (NE of Plesetsk) about a rocket launch and stage separation (in one piece), possibly indicating an ICBM launch: https://t.co/bElbE6hVlW https://t.co/adIadiu1hY
NASA Holds All‑Day Meeting on Trump's Artemis Order
Here's the NASA press release about tomorrow's (Tuesday, Mar 24) all-day meeting at NASA HQ about implementing Trump's Dec 2025 Executive Order re Artemis. https://t.co/fR9uM0P2io Livestreamed. Starts at 9:00 am ET. News conf at 4:45 pm ET.
Department of War Contracts for March 20, 2026
The Department of War announced a series of major defense contracts on March 20, 2026, including a $414 million modification that lifts the Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory’s Missile Defense Agency award to a $714 million ceiling through November 2031. The...
NASA to Reveal Artemis Plans, Spotlight Former Gateway Manager
NASA will share a ton of Artemis planning information tomorrow at HQ. I’ve highlighted Garcia-Galan because he was deputy program manager for Gateway prior to this. https://t.co/HlCvRYr1N6
Reagan Announces “Star Wars” Defense Initiative, 1983
#ThisDayInTechHistory. March 23, 1983. President Ronald Reagan delivered his famous "Star Wars" speech, officially the Strategic Defense Initiative or SDI. #JVGpost https://t.co/Q1TbucLMjG
Cebu Pacific Scales Back Int’l Flights as MidEast War Lifts Fuel Costs
Cebu Pacific announced a temporary scaling back of its international network as the Middle East conflict drives jet‑fuel prices to more than double 2025 levels. The airline will suspend Davao‑Bangkok, Iloilo‑Bangkok, Iloilo‑Singapore and Clark‑Hanoi routes through October and trim frequencies...
Mir Ends 15-Year Orbit, Burns up on Reentry
#ThisDayInTechHistory. March 23, 2001. The Mir Russian Space station reenters Earth's atmosphere and breaks up after 15 years in space. (First Post) #Space #Exploration #JVGpost https://t.co/qAgsA3nlep
NASA’s Van Allen Probe A Burns up over the Pacific After 14 Years in Space
NASA’s Van Allen Probe A burned up over the eastern Pacific on March 11, 2026, ending a seven‑year mission that far outlasted its planned two‑year lifespan. The 1,300‑pound (600 kg) spacecraft, launched in 2012, spent nearly a decade studying Earth’s radiation belts and delivering...
Intensive Deployment Causing Russian Jets to Glitch (Ukraine Battlefield Update, Day 1,488)
Intensive Russian air‑force deployment since Syria and the 2022 Ukraine invasion has led to a surge in technical failures. A Ukrainian OSINT report covering 29 Dec 2025‑18 Jan 2026 lists 24 incidents at 19 bases, including engine malfunctions, navigation glitches, and a half‑ton bomb...