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
From Goddard’s Cabbage Patch to Artemis II.
In this episode, host Maria Varmazas chats with Jeff Carr, a veteran of NASA media and son of Apollo-era astronaut Capcom Jerry Carr, about the parallels between the Apollo 8 era of 1968 and today’s Artemis 2 mission. Jeff reflects on his upbringing in the Apollo bubble, his father’s missed moonshot, and how the Apollo program lifted national morale during a time of social unrest. He argues that Artemis 2 has the potential to rekindle American pride and inspire a new generation, but stresses the need for the space community to actively tell the story. The conversation also touches on the expanding global launch ecosystem, highlighted by Canada’s new Nova Scotia spaceport investment.
NASA's Zero‑Gravity Arms Master Delicate and Heavy Gripping
NASA’s Zero-Gravity #Robotic Arms Master Delicate, Heavy, and Irregular Grips by @tweetciiiim #Tech #TechForGood #EmergingTech https://t.co/MkbKbo4c5d
Two Unreported MDA Suborbital Launches Occurred in March
There were apparently two MDA suborbital target missile launches from Wallops on Mar 17 and 19 that weren't reported at the time: https://t.co/wDoCCKpEF4
How Flatulence in Space Impacts Mission Design
Flatulence continues in orbit, but microgravity changes how the gas spreads and is perceived inside a sealed cabin. Astronauts manage digestive gas through diet design, air‑circulation engineering, and medical monitoring rather than fearing explosions. The issue is fundamentally one of...
Assessing Lunar Resource Availability for Mass Driver Construction
In relation to the mass driver idea on the moon, for anyone that has a deep understanding of materials needed for such a satellite, can most of it be sourced from the lunar surface? Interesting to know what percentage can...
Low-Cost Travel Revolution: Vietjet Takes the Crown as the World’s Top Budget Airline in 2026
Vietjet has been named the Best Ultra‑Low‑Cost Carrier for 2026 and placed among the Top 10 low‑cost airlines worldwide by AirlineRatings.com. The Vietnamese carrier secured the award for the eighth consecutive year, highlighting its blend of ultra‑affordable fares, a modern Airbus...
China's Aviation Regulator Skips Second Annual Crash Update
Reuters: China’s aviation regulator has not released an annual update on its investigation into a deadly China Eastern Airlines crash for the second year in a row, letting the fourth anniversary pass without providing any insight into the cause. https://t.co/KJ0yOnAqJc
Thousands of Passengers Trapped in Asia as India, China, Vietnam, UAE, Qatar, and More Cancel 243 and Delay 2,235 Flights,...
Over the past 48 hours, severe weather, air‑traffic‑control constraints and operational failures forced the cancellation of 243 flights and delayed 2,235 across major Asian hubs. The disruptions hit carriers such as IndiGo, Emirates, Gulf Air and ANA Wings, leaving thousands of...
Elon Musk Dreams of Epic Lunar Mass Driver
“I just want to live long enough to see the mass driver on the moon. Because that’s going to be incredibly epic.” — @ElonMusk tonight https://t.co/gnYf3oEXdP
Trillion‑Watt Compute Demands Push Tesla, Space
SpaceXAI + Tesla TERAFAB Project Goal is a trillion watts of compute/year Most must necessarily go to space, as US electricity is only 0.5TW
Some European Launcher Challenge Funding Remains in Limbo
The European Space Agency (ESA) earmarked over €900 million for the European Launcher Challenge, but roughly €140 million remains unallocated, largely from the United Kingdom. A portion of the funding was tied to Orbex, which entered administration, removing €34.9 million from the pool....
Satellite Operators Can't Match Launch Providers' Internal Pricing Advantage
This is the wrong framing. The correct framing is "it's only reasonable to ask whether any satellite operators can compete with launch providers that build their own constellations and charge *prices* to third parties that are much higher than their...
Kunshan Pivots to Drones and Flying Cars as Foxconn Era Wanes
Kunshan, once the world’s biggest laptop assembly hub, is redirecting its $70 billion Taiwan‑funded investment base toward a "low‑altitude economy" of drones and flying cars. The shift reflects rising labour costs, geopolitical pressure and China’s push for self‑sufficient high‑tech aerospace capabilities.
Screeching Halt: Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 Rejects Takeoff At High Speed In Denver
Lufthansa’s Munich‑bound Airbus A350‑900 aborted takeoff at Denver International Airport after reaching roughly 173 knots, citing strong tailwinds. The high‑speed stop caused the brakes to overheat and nearly catch fire, though the landing gear held up. The aircraft, registration D‑AIVD, was...
Canada Cancels Small Lunar Rover that Was to Fly on Firefly’s Blue Ghost Lander in ’29
The Canadian Space Agency announced the cancellation of its planned lunar rover, which was to hitch a ride on Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander in 2029. The rover, built by Canadensys, would have been Canada’s first surface vehicle on the...
EPropelled Unveils Expansion at Global Innovation Centre in Coventry
ePropelled inaugurated its Global Innovation Centre in Coventry on March 20, marking a major expansion aimed at scaling production to over one million electric and hybrid propulsion systems annually by 2027. The facility consolidates propulsion design, software development, and testing,...
Private Mission to Apophis Gets Another Customer, Two Student-Built Landers
Exlabs' ApophisExL mission, the first commercial deep‑space rideshare, has secured a second payload customer: Japan's Chiba Institute of Technology. The university team will launch two student‑built landers to touch down on asteroid Apophis during its April 13, 2029 close fly‑by....
United Airlines Trims Routes as Jet Fuel Costs Surge $11 Billion Amid Iran War
United Airlines announced a tactical reduction of less‑profitable flights and a suspension of service to Tel Aviv and Dubai after jet fuel prices nearly doubled. CEO Scott Kirby warned the carrier faces an $11 billion jump in its annual fuel bill...
Pentagon Report: Space Force ATLAS Program Falls Short of Decommissioning Targets
The Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test & Evaluation reported on March 16, 2026 that the Space Force’s Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS) is not yet mature enough to retire the 1979‑era Space Defense Operations Center (SPADOC). Although ATLAS achieved operational...
Sweden’s Esrange Spaceport Signs Launch Deal with Swedish Military
Sweden’s Esrange spaceport signed a roughly $22 million launch agreement with the Swedish Armed Forces, earmarking the facility for military and allied satellite missions. The contract is part of a broader $100 million government investment to expand Sweden’s space capabilities through 2032,...
JWST Probes Emerging Young Star Clusters in Nearby Spiral Galaxy NGC 628
An international team led by Helena Faustino Vieira used JWST’s NIRSpec to study emerging young star clusters (eYSCs) in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 628. The FEAST program targeted 14 eYSCs, detecting helium and hydrogen recombination lines, molecular hydrogen transitions, and strong...
B-52 Spotted Yet Again Testing the AGM-181 Next-Gen Stealth Nuclear Cruise Missile
The U.S. Air Force continues integration testing of the AGM‑181 Long Range Standoff (LRSO) cruise missile on a B‑52H Stratofortress, which was photographed over California carrying two inert missiles. The formation also included an NKC‑135R tanker and an F‑22 equipped...
Iran's New Missile Range Threatens European Capitals
🚨 IRAN COULD NOW HIT LONDON, PARIS OR BERLIN They just launched ballistic missiles at the UK-US base on Diego Garcia (around 4,000 km away). Even though the missiles missed, it shows they have much longer range than previously thought. Big European capitals...
Iranian Missile Breaches Israeli Defense, Highlighting Intercept Challenges
Intercepting ballistic missiles is really hard. Iranian ballistic missile making through the air defense in the Southern Israeli city of Dimona
This Key Airport Runway Safety Feature Can Stop A Plane In Seconds
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) is a runway safety feature that can halt an overrunning aircraft within seconds. Installed on 116 runways at 69 U.S. airports, EMAS uses crush‑able concrete blocks (EMASMAX) or recycled‑glass silica foam...
India Removes Airfare Caps as Flight Operations Stabilise, Warns Against Price Surge
India’s civil aviation ministry lifted the temporary airfare caps that capped tickets between ₹7,500 and ₹18,000, effective Monday. The caps were introduced after IndiGo’s December disruptions and were removed as flight capacity normalises amid rising operating costs linked to the...
Closest View Yet of F-22 Raptor With Stealth Tanks and Stealth Pods
New high‑resolution photographs reveal a Lockheed Martin F‑22A Raptor equipped with stealthy external fuel tanks and twin equipment pods. The pods appear to house an infrared search‑and‑track (IRST) or similar optical targeting system, while the tanks feature low‑observable shaping to...
United Trims 5% Capacity on Weak Routes Amid Fuel Surge
United Airlines $UAL plans to lower its capacity by 5% across less profitable routes in the near term in response to surging fuel prices - SA
United Polaris Suite Doors Will Be Locked Open…For Now
United Airlines will debut its next‑generation Polaris suites on 787‑9 aircraft this spring, but the sliding privacy doors will remain locked open until the FAA grants certification. The memo to flight attendants confirms that door‑related safety procedures are on hold,...
China Debuts CJ‑1000 Scramjet Missile, Heightening U.S. Hypersonic Gap Concerns
China displayed the CJ‑1000 hypersonic missile at a September 3, 2025 parade, claiming a 6,000‑km range and Mach 6 speed. U.S. officials say the weapon widens a perceived gap in the hypersonic race, prompting accelerated testing of the Dark Eagle program.
Exclusive-Bahrain Cites Patriot Interception in March 9 Iranian Drone Incident
Bahrain announced that its Patriot air‑defence system intercepted an Iranian drone over the Sitra district on March 9, preventing a direct hit on a residential area. The drone strike initially injured 32 civilians, including children, and was previously described by the...
COTS Electronics Survive
Operators can use commercial off the shelf [COTS] electronics in satellites, with a mission life of 3-7 years. A radiation-hardened part can last 15 years. Many modern satellites use radiation tolerant parts. SpaceX, Planet Labs and Kuiper/LEO all...
SpaceX and Tesla Launch TERAFAB: Terawatt‑scale Compute
Formal announcement of the TERAFAB project, which will be done jointly by @SpaceX and @Tesla, tonight around 8pm CT. Livestream on 𝕏. The goal is to produce over a TERAWATT of compute per year (logic, memory & packaging) with ~80% for...
Artemis 2 Returns to the Pad for April Launch Attempt
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission rolled back to Launch Complex 39B on March 20 and is now positioned for a launch window opening April 1. The rollout followed a February‑March fix of a helium‑line seal that caused upper‑stage blockage and hydrogen leaks during earlier wet‑dress...
Iranian Missile Evades Israeli Defenses, Hits Arad
Israeli media reporting a mass casualty event in the city of Arad after missile defence systems failed to intercept an Iranian ballistic missile. Reports suggest that Iran used a new type of ballistic missile that can evade the Air Defence...
Want
I want a HondaJet carrier borne ASW aircraft and no I don't care how bad of an idea that is.
In an Era of Closed Skies, Airlines Look to Fly Farther Than Ever
Airlines are deploying Boeing’s 777X ultra‑long‑haul jets as geopolitical tensions make traditional great‑circle routes unreliable. The aircraft’s 18‑hour range enables nonstop links such as Singapore‑New York and opens new possibilities between Australia‑Europe and Southeast Asia‑North America. Closed Russian airspace and volatile Middle‑East corridors...
United Mistakenly Told All Flight Attendants They’re Relocating to London
United Airlines Accidentally Emailed Every Flight Attendant That They Were Moving To London [Roundup] - View from the Wing https://t.co/7FygmjmEoU
Two-Stage IRBM Likely Based on Zoljanah or Qaem
Two-stage is a helpful bit of data. Now more likely a two-stage IRBM derived from a solid SLV like the Zoljanah or Qaem-100/105.
This European Airline Wants to Charge Premium Fares But Offer Low-Cost Vibes as Latest Cost-Cutting Plan Is Derided as ‘Cheap...
Lufthansa, Europe’s flagship carrier, is piloting a "light cleaning" concept on short‑haul flights, cleaning only Business Class cabins while economy sections and lavatories are serviced on demand. The trial runs on 20 routes between March 16 and March 29, targeting...
JetBlue Pilots Sue to Block United Partnership
JetBlue Pilots Sue To Stop The United Partnership — Claiming It Violates Their Contract - View from the Wing https://t.co/wf5nzIHtpu
SLVs Likely Designed Primarily as Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
This is very good, although I tend to think the SLVs were always designed with use as IRBMs in mind so I regard that as equally likely given the very long distances involved.
Planet Labs Posts Record Q4 Revenue, Shares Surge 25% on Strong Guidance
Planet Labs posted a record $86.8 million Q4 revenue, a 41% year‑over‑year increase, and announced its first full‑year adjusted EBITDA profitability. The results, coupled with a 39% revenue outlook for FY 2027, lifted the company’s shares 25% in after‑hours trading.
First Cargo Launch From Repaired Site 31 Tomorrow
A cargo mission to lift off from the repaired pad at Site 31 tomorrow for the first time (details, updates): https://t.co/U0Mzlpkmer
EVTOL Progress Stalls: Uncovering the Delays
The big read: What the heck is taking the eVTOL companies so long? https://t.co/vX387k0LlX (via @elanhead)
Airbus Is Fitting AI War Drones for the German Air Force with First Flight Due in 2026
Airbus is integrating its European MARS mission system, featuring the MindShare AI, into two Kratos Valkyrie combat drones for the German Air Force. The first flight is targeted for late 2026, with full operational capability expected by 2029. The Valkyrie...
Iran's Solid‑propellant SLVs Could Launch Sizable Payloads
While I can't rule out a low-payload stunt, Iran has several SLVs (including solid propellants) that could deliver a significant payload to these distances.
Iran's 2000 Km Range Is Political, Not Technical
This is misguided. Iran’s 2000 km “ceiling” was a voluntary political limit, not a technical one. Many of us spent the past several years explaining that Iran could quickly build IRBMs if it chose to do so. It’s not my...
Key Space Force C2 Upgrade Still Faces Issues: Pentagon Report
The Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test & Evaluation reported that the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS) still cannot meet the minimum viable capability required to retire the legacy Space Defense Operations Center (SPADOC). Although the Space Force approved...
United Airlines Prepares for Worst, Hopes for Best
United Airlines plans for the worst and no doubt hopes for the best. Source: https://t.co/aZdWvhb1R5 https://t.co/vYd0VS4sw7