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
NASA Wants to Know How the Launch Industry's Chic New Rocket Fuel Explodes
NASA and the U.S. Space Force are conducting controlled detonations of methane‑liquid‑oxygen (methalox) propellants to quantify their explosive potential. Tests at Eglin Air Force Base began with C‑4 baselines, progressed to unmixed methane and LOX, and will scale to 20,000‑pound articles that mimic a Starship‑size load. The data will replace the current 100% TNT equivalence assumption with a more accurate blast‑yield model. Industry groups argue the results could shrink safety keep‑out zones, enabling tighter launch‑pad operations for SpaceX, Blue Origin and other methane‑fuel developers.
This Missile Just Proved Itself in Iran. The US Needs More, ASAP
The U.S. Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) made its first combat debut during the opening hours of the war on Iran, demonstrating a longer range than the legacy ATACMS and the ability to double payloads on HIMARS and MLRS launchers....
Prices of Greener Jet Fuel Rise With Oil Shock, Leaving Airlines Exposed
Oil‑supply disruptions in the Middle East have pushed both conventional jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) prices higher, narrowing the premium that SAF traditionally commanded. In March, SAF in Western Europe traded around $2,500 per metric ton, down from...
South Korea’s First C-390 Millennium Completes Maiden Flight
South Korea’s Republic of Korea Air Force successfully completed the maiden flight of its first Embraer C‑390 Millennium, marking the aircraft’s inaugural operational test. The flight follows a public tender that made South Korea the first Asian customer for the...
Drones Threaten B‑52 Fleet, Prompt Urgent Hardening
I have spent a good part of my career just getting people to believe this was actually happening. Now we are here. With 15 drones, you can lose roughly 1/4 of the B-52 force as it sits idle on the...
Dozens of Drones Swarm Bomber Base in Multiple Waves
Re-upping this because apparently there were multiple waves of more than a dozen drones over one of our bomber bases last week. 😬
India’s Second Spaceport to Be Completed Next Year
India plans to commission its second spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu during the 2026‑27 financial year. The facility, named the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) Launch Complex, will support polar launches of the SSLV and other commercial rockets, targeting...
Blue Origin Plans 51,600‑satellite Orbital Data Center
"Blue Origin is the latest company to propose an orbital data center system, filing plans for a constellation of up to 51,600 satellites." via @SpaceNews_Inc https://t.co/yssLQmxsL8
GE Aerospace Q4 Earnings Surge as CEO Pay Slashed 52%
GE Aerospace reported an 18.9% jump in fourth‑quarter revenue and a 32% rise in earnings per share, underscoring a strong operating quarter. At the same time, the company’s proxy filing revealed that CEO Larry Culp’s 2025 compensation was cut by...
Air India Made Passengers Endure A 14-Hour Flight To Nowhere — It Sent An Ex-Delta Plane Without Enough Oxygen For...
Air India’s Delhi‑Vancouver flight 185 turned back after seven hours when the airline discovered it had dispatched an ex‑Delta Boeing 777‑200LR lacking the mandatory emergency‑oxygen system for high‑terrain routes. The aircraft, registered VT‑AEI, was part of a leased sub‑fleet not approved...
Space Force Switches From ULA to SpaceX Rocket for Upcoming GPS Launch
The U.S. Space Force has shifted an upcoming GPS III satellite launch from United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 after a February anomaly halted Vulcan’s military flights. The GPS payload, originally slated for this month, will now launch no...
Passengers Left Stranded Across Mexico After Vivaaerobus Cancels Over 35 Flights Affecting Routes From Mexico City to Cancun, Guadalajara, Monterrey,...
Vivaaerobus cancelled 38 scheduled flights this week, affecting six major Mexican airports including Mexico City, Cancun, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana and Puerto Vallarta. The disruptions spanned domestic routes to Monterrey, Tijuana and Cancun as well as international services to Toronto and...
Bezos Invests in Terminator SSO Sunlit Space Gold Rush
Jeff Bezos joins the gold rush to Terminator SSO (and permanent sunlight in space near Earth). https://t.co/QyGifj6ehT
The True Cost of Engine Maintenance
Engine acquisition represents a significant portion of airline assets, often reaching 25% of a new aircraft’s value and up to 90% as the engine ages. Direct maintenance accounts for 35‑40% of airline operating costs, with shop visits ranging from $0.5 million...
How Airports Must Lay the Groundwork for Hydrogen-Powered Flight
At the Sustainable Skies World Summit 2026, industry leaders warned that most airports are not yet equipped to support hydrogen‑powered aircraft, even if the planes are flight‑ready. Hydrogen introduces distinct storage, handling, and high‑power electricity requirements, demanding substantial infrastructure investment...
Study Compares CNC, SLM, Extrusion For UAV Part
A recent Sustainability study compares CNC milling, Selective Laser Melting (SLM), and metal extrusion (MEX) for producing a VTOL UAV component. The analysis evaluates material efficiency, energy consumption, capital investment, and post‑processing labor across a single functional part. Results show...
What the El Paso Airspace Shutdown Reveals About Aviation’s GPS Vulnerability
The El Paso airspace shutdown earlier this year was triggered by a counter‑drone operation that employed GPS‑jamming technology. The incident exposed how national‑security measures can unintentionally disrupt the satellite‑navigation systems that modern cargo aviation depends on for routing, fuel‑efficiency and timing....
Italian Eurofighters Intercept Russian Su-30 That Violated Estonian Airspace Over the Baltic Sea
On 18 March 2026 a Russian Navy Su‑30SM entered Estonian airspace for about a minute, prompting the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission to scramble Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons from Ämari. The Su‑30, flying without a flight plan or radio...
Northrop’s Talon IQ Flies First Mission With Shield AI’s Hivemind Autonomy
Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ modular testbed successfully completed its first flight using Shield AI’s Hivemind as the digital brain. The autonomous mission, conducted in Mojave, saw the aircraft execute a combat air patrol and engage simulated targets without human input....
NASA Seeks SmallSat Mission Concepts Using Adaptive Sensing and Edge AI
NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office announced the Space to Soil Challenge, inviting proposals for SmallSat missions that leverage adaptive sensing and edge AI. The initiative aims to advance onboard processing capabilities that can deliver rapid, high‑resolution data for land‑resilience applications...
Private Company to Land on Asteroid Apophis as It Flies Close to Earth
In 2029, asteroid Apophis will skim Earth at just 32,000 kilometres, a once‑in‑millennia event visible to the naked eye. A private U.S. company plans to deploy two landers as part of an international armada that includes spacecraft from Europe, Japan...
EHang Progresses eVTOL Ecosystem Development Plans in Thailand
EHang’s senior leadership met Thai government officials and local firms in Bangkok to accelerate the rollout of its pilotless eVTOL aircraft. The discussions targeted a three‑dimensional transport system that could ease congestion, improve emergency response and link regions at low...
PM Modi to Inaugurate Noida International Airport on March 28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Noida International Airport in Jewar on March 28, 2026. The airport has secured final security clearance from BCAS and an aerodrome licence from the DGCA, clearing the last regulatory hurdles before commercial service....
Week in Images: 16-20 March 2026
The week of March 16‑20, 2026 was marked by a series of striking space‑related images. NASA’s Artemis II rocket returned to its Kennedy launchpad after a second rollout, while ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot captured the first Cupola view of the εpsilon mission and prepared...
Live Coverage: SpaceX to Launch 25 Starlink Satellites on Falcon 9 Rocket From Vandenberg SFB
SpaceX is set to launch its 30th Starlink batch of 2026, deploying 25 V2 Mini Optimized satellites on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission, designated Starlink 17‑15, will lift off at 2:51:49 p.m. PDT and follow a southerly trajectory into...
SpaceX Begins 1 Million‑Satellite Orbiting Data Center Initiative
SpaceX To Start “Small” With 1 Million Satellite Plan for Orbiting Data Centers https://t.co/HCh6cfWm1c #SpaceEconomy https://t.co/PNf86RkEJs
Pilot Walks Away From Incident, Fails to Squawk 7700
This caught-on-camera incident was the feature of this week's episode of @flywithaopa's excellent There I Was podcast series. Great job by the PIC to walk away from it. The only thing I noted was it didn't seem he squawked 7700, which...
Amazon Leo Vs. SpaceX Starlink: The Race to Own Low Earth Orbit
SpaceX’s Starlink crossed the 10,000‑satellite threshold in March 2026 and now serves over 10 million customers across roughly 160 countries. Amazon’s rebranded Leo constellation, launched in 2025, has about 250 satellites in orbit and began a limited commercial rollout in early...
UK Must Adapt Air and Space Power Amid Escalating Threats
With conflicts & threats escalating in multiple theatres - Can the UK adapt its air & space power resources to meet the challenges? Analysis #avgeek #NATO https://t.co/vB6s61ktZ3 https://t.co/MEZDMDGcrf
Lockheed Martin Signs All Industrial Projects for Czech F-35 Programme
Lockheed Martin has signed off on all eleven industrial cooperation projects tied to the Czech Republic’s F‑35 Lightning II programme, including a partnership with Ray Service to manufacture wire harnesses domestically. The Czech government plans to purchase 24 F‑35A fighters,...
IRocket iRX-100 Missile Test with Arnold Defense Launcher
On March 11, U.S. startup iRocket and Arnold Defense successfully conducted a live‑fire test of the iRocket iRX‑100 tactical missile from an Arnold Defense 70 mm rocket launcher in the Mojave Desert. The solid‑fuel missile accelerated to roughly Mach 2, traveling about...
NASA Won't Give up Hope on Silent MAVEN Mars Probe: 'We're Still Looking for It'
NASA announced on March 16 that it still has not re‑established contact with the MAVEN orbiter, which went silent after emerging from Mars’ far side on Dec. 6, 2025. The agency has resumed Deep Space Network attempts following a solar conjunction,...
NASA Glenn Opens Applications for Free Summer Engineering Institute
NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is accepting applications for the 2026 NASA Glenn High School Engineering Institute, a five‑day, hands‑on summer program for rising juniors and seniors. Applications are open from March 20 to May 1, 2026, and require a minimum...
Nigeria's Binani Air Certifies for Scheduled Operations
Nigeria's Binani Air obtained an air operator’s certificate for scheduled domestic flights from the NCAA on 17 March. The certification marks the first fully woman‑owned airline in Nigeria, led by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani. Binani Air already holds an...
Robinson Helicopters and Their Accelerated Path to FAA Autonomous Certification
Robinson Helicopter is pursuing FAA autonomous certification by retrofitting its proven R44 and R66 helicopters with autonomy systems. By certifying only the autonomy stack and control changes under Part 27, the company avoids the extensive airframe and propulsion validation required by...
From Orbit to Objective: Space and the Future of Conflict
The Irregular Warfare Podcast episode “From Orbit to Objective” examines how space has become a contested domain shaping modern conflict. Hosts Ben Jebb and Charlie McGillis interview Dr. James Kiras and U.S. Space Command leader General Stephen Whiting about the...
Airlines Face Unprecedented Q1 Earnings Amid Fuel and Demand Pressures
Between TSA lines, fuel costs and the actual physical availability of jet fuel, I expect Q1 airline industry earnings reports to be awash in the word "unprecedented." And God help them if we see weakness in premium passenger demand given all...
Ukraine Downs Russian Ka-52 Helicopter with FPV Drone
Ukrainian forces reported that an FPV drone destroyed a Russian Ka‑52 attack helicopter near Pokrovsk, supported by video and photos. The strike was credited to the 59th Separate Assault Brigade, which uses low‑cost, first‑person‑view drones as improvised strike platforms. The...
Ryanair Opens Biggest In-House MRO at Madrid Barajas, Spain
Ryanair has inaugurated its biggest in‑house maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre at Madrid‑Barajas Airport, marking the airline’s largest dedicated facility to date. The new hub consolidates maintenance for its Boeing 737‑800 fleet, allowing Ryanair to perform more work internally...
The First Flying Taxis Could Start Operating in 2026 — Will This New Form of Transport Actually Take Off?
Flying‑taxi pioneers Joby Aviation and Archer plan to debut eVTOL services in Dubai by 2026, marking the first commercial rollout of electric vertical take‑off aircraft. However, regulators such as the FAA and EASA still require extensive certification, with experts projecting...
Brazil Launches Public Consultation on National AAM Policy
The Brazilian Ministry of Ports and Airports has opened a public consultation to draft a National Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) policy that will regulate drones and electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for cargo and passenger transport. The consultation...
Korea Airports Corporation to Build UAM Test Hub
Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) will build a dedicated urban air mobility (UAM) vertiport test hub at the KINTEX exhibition center in Goyang, northwest of Seoul. The facility, slated for completion by 2027, is...
Hundreds of Jobs to Be Created at Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Ryanair is expanding its aircraft maintenance facility at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, adding four new bays to bring the total to ten. The £40 million investment, underpinned by more than £15 million in public funding, will generate roughly 450 engineering jobs and 60...
Podcast: Building the Defense Backbone: Precision Aerospace & Defense and FACT II (FACT)
Precision Aerospace & Defense Group and FACT II Acquisition Corp announced a $310 million business combination, turning the defense‑supplier roll‑up into a publicly traded entity via a SPAC. The deal, disclosed in December, positions Precision to build an EBITDA‑positive network of critical...
New Specs Emerge on Mysterious Russian Interceptor Drone
Ukrainian defense analyst Serhii Beskrestnov disclosed technical details of Russia’s Yolka interceptor drone, a short‑range, daylight‑only system designed for kinetic engagement of hostile UAVs. The drone can travel up to 200 km/h, operates within a 3‑kilometre radius, and tolerates wind speeds...
Kayhan Targets Investors, Insurers with Expanded Orbital Intelligence Platform
Kayhan Space unveiled Satcat Terminal, an AI‑driven platform that translates orbital data into business insights for investors and insurers, echoing the functionality of a Bloomberg Terminal for space assets. The service draws on a catalog of more than 36,000 tracked...
Somalia Denies Baidoa Flight Halt, Calls Claims Propaganda
Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority says commercial flights between Mogadishu and Baidoa continue without restrictions, rejecting media claims of a suspension. The denial comes after reports that the South West State’s capital cut ties with the federal government amid a constitutional...
7Air Appoints Juan Nunez as Chief Operating Officer
7Air has promoted Juan Nunez to chief operating officer and accountable executive, a year after securing FAA certification. Nunez, who previously led flight operations at 7Air and served as director of operations for the FAA, will oversee regulatory compliance and...
T-20 Days: Smile to Launch on 9 April
The European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences will launch the Smile mission on a Vega‑C rocket from French Guiana on Thursday 9 April at 08:29 CEST. The spacecraft will perform the first X‑ray imaging of Earth’s magnetic field and monitor...
Sri Lanka’s Mattala Airport Proposed as a Contingency Hub for Gulf Carriers
Sri Lanka has offered Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport as a contingency hub for Gulf carriers after widespread closures of Middle East airspace disrupted Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi operations. The 3,500‑metre runway can accommodate Airbus A350, Boeing 777 and A380...