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
Press Release: Honeywell, Boeing and Reading Advance Contrail Sensing
Honeywell, Boeing and the University of Reading have launched Project MIST, a joint effort funded by the UK Aerospace Technology Institute to develop an aircraft‑mounted humidity sensor. The prototype aims to close data gaps in high‑altitude moisture measurements, improving contrail forecasting and weather modelling. Honeywell will handle sensor hardware and systems integration, Boeing will manage aircraft integration and testing, while Reading will provide contrail modelling expertise. The initiative supports the UK’s Net Zero aviation goals and the broader industry push to mitigate non‑CO₂ climate impacts.
Lufthansa Cargo Integrates Add-On Services Into Booking Process
German carrier Lufthansa Cargo has embedded optional add‑on services directly into its online booking flow, allowing shippers to select and price extras with a few clicks. The initial rollout offers Sustainable Choice, Personal Supervision and smartULD, with toDoor delivery and...
FAA Clears Boeing 777-9 to Begin First Part of TIA Phase 4 Certification Trials
The FAA announced on March 17 that Boeing received clearance to start Phase 4A of the Type Inspection Authorization for its 777‑9, the first segment of the five‑phase certification program. Phase 4A will involve extensive air‑ and ground‑based system tests, mirroring the workload...
9 New Faces for SATShow Week 2026
SATShow Week 2026 unveiled nine fresh leaders spanning investment, manufacturing, policy and operations, underscoring the event’s expanding GovMilSpace focus. Ellen Chang highlighted the need for terrestrial infrastructure financing, while Apex’s Ian Cinnamon disclosed a $400 million fundraising round to scale bus...
Palantir Integrates AI Into Stratospheric ISR Systems
Palantir Technologies has partnered with Ondas and World View Enterprises to build an AI‑driven, multi‑domain intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system that spans stratospheric balloons, autonomous drones and ground assets. The collaboration leverages Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform, World View’s high‑altitude...
SpaceX’s Starlink Asks Ofcom for Permission to Build Two New Earth Stations in London and Essex
SpaceX’s Starlink has applied to Ofcom for two new Ka‑band Earth stations—one in London’s Mulberry Wharf and another in Harlow, Essex—targeting early 2026 deployment. The company says its current gateway network is nearing capacity, forcing it to limit service to...
Industry Roundtable With ’10 Hottest’ Executives
A roundtable of leaders from Viasat, SpinLaunch, Voyager Technologies, ArkEdge Space and Planet highlighted three dominant themes for SATShow Week 2026: the rise of multi‑orbit and hybrid satellite networks, the growing importance of dual‑use space systems for defense and commercial...
Turkish Airlines Launches Flights From Third London Airport
Turkish Airlines inaugurated a new service linking Istanbul Airport to London Stansted, marking its third London gateway. The launch was celebrated with a ceremony attended by airline and airport executives. The carrier now operates from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh and...
Bell Completes Critical Design Review on DARPA SPRINT X-Plane Program
Bell Textron announced the successful completion of the Critical Design Review for DARPA’s SPRINT X‑plane program on March 9, clearing the path to build the X‑76 demonstrator. The milestone follows Bell’s Phase 2 down‑selection and integrates Swift Engineering’s composite‑fuselage expertise. The X‑76...
Delta Flight to Taipei Makes Emergency Diversion After Passenger Uses the ‘N Word’ On Flight Attendant
Delta Air Lines diverted its Seattle‑Taipei flight to Anchorage after passenger Malcolm Martin used a racial slur and threatened a flight attendant, prompting a Level 3 threat designation and cockpit lockdown. An FBI affidavit shows Martin was charged with interference with...
China’s Shenzhou‑21 Crew Completes 7‑Hour Spacewalk to Install Debris Shield
China’s Shenzhou‑21 crew performed a seven‑hour extravehicular activity on March 16, installing a space‑debris protection device on the Tiangong station. The EVA marks the mission’s second spacewalk, the 26th overall for Chinese astronauts, and brings commander Zhang Lu’s total to...
Drone Wars: Countries Are Looking for Answers but Do Companies Have the Solutions?
Manufacturers are accelerating counter‑drone (CUAS) development as nations rush to buy systems for battlefield and homeland protection. Recent Middle‑East flare‑ups, including the US‑Israeli strike on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks, have underscored the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems highlighted...
Archer Aviation Q4, Fiscal Year 2025 Results Confirm On-Track U.S., UAE Midnight Pilot Programs for 2026
Archer Aviation reported a Q4 2025 net loss of $188.9 million and a full‑year loss of $618.2 million, while ending the year with a record $2 billion liquidity cushion. The company confirmed its Midnight eVTOL fleet is on schedule for piloted flights in...
Swapping Batteries for Hydrogen Gives Drones a Whole New Range
Researchers at Norway's SINTEF have built a hydrogen‑fuel‑cell drone that swaps its battery for a lightweight hydrogen tank, delivering multi‑hour flight endurance. The prototype can inspect long stretches of power lines, conduct search‑and‑rescue missions, and map terrain, offering a cheaper,...
U.S. Army Fields AH-64E Apaches at Fort Bliss
On February 12, 2026, the U.S. Army delivered its first AH‑64E Apache helicopters to the 1st Armored Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Bliss. The aircraft mark the unit’s shift toward a Heavy Combat Aviation Brigade, featuring upgraded sensors, networked...
ALL.SPACE Achieves Industry-First Multi-Orbit Certification for SES O3b mPOWER
ALL.SPACE announced on March 18, 2026 that its electronically scanned antenna terminal received the industry’s first certification for simultaneous multi‑orbit connectivity on SES’s O3b mPOWER MEO constellation. The ESA can track GEO, MEO and LEO satellites concurrently without mechanical parts, offering...
Inside Space Systems Command: Col. Menschner | Spacepower Podcast
In this episode, Colonel Andrew Menchner, Deputy Commander of Space Systems Command (SSC), explains how SSC acquires, builds, and fields critical space capabilities—such as GPS, missile warning, and satellite communications—for the joint force, allies, and partners. He highlights the command’s...
Iran War: Saudi Arabia’s Airline “Saudia” Gets Ranked 2nd Most Punctual in the World; Here’s Top 5
Amid the escalating Iran‑U.S. conflict, widespread airspace closures have forced carriers to cancel or reroute flights across the Middle East and Europe‑Asia corridors. Despite these disruptions, Cirium’s On‑Time Performance Review 2025 ranks Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier Saudia as the world’s...
MQ-20 Avenger Demonstrates Advanced Autonomy in U.S. Air Force Exercise
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and the U.S. Air Force completed a landmark autonomy flight test using the MQ‑20 Avenger. The exercise demonstrated that the unmanned jet can coordinate complex combat maneuvers without human input, showcasing the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)...
Air Seychelles Resumes Long Haul Flights, Temporarily, Using Etihad 787
Air Seychelles will temporarily resume nonstop Mahé‑Paris flights from 22 March to 29 April 2026, operating three times weekly using a leased Etihad Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner. The carrier’s own fleet of A320neos and Twin Otters cannot cover the 4,871‑mile sector,...
ESA to Incentivise the Use of European Launchers for LEO Cargo Return Initiative
The European Space Agency announced a €50 million incentive to encourage the use of Ariane 6 or other European launchers for its ALADDIN demonstration missions, part of the LEO Cargo Return Services program. Up to €420 million per contract will be awarded, split...
Teamwork Fueled Dubai Airport’s Rapid Recovery After Shutdown
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths speaking to CNN's Becky Anderson: the key to keeping flights moving at DXB during the recent suspension was the outstanding teamwork from all parties... airport, airlines, ground handlers, emergency services. IMO: it’s easy to criticise when...
Iran War: Qatar Airways Evacuates Four Widebody Airplanes to a Deep Storage Facility in the Aragon Mountains
Qatar Airways evacuated four Airbus A330 wide‑bodies from Doha to Tarmac Aerosave in Teruel, Spain, after the Iran‑Qatar conflict shut Qatari airspace in late February. The deep‑storage facility, known for housing aircraft long‑term, offers protection from desert sand and corrosion....
Engel Fully Automates the Production of Composite Rotor Blades for Drones
Engel Austria unveiled a fully automated production line for composite drone rotor blades at JEC World, merging reinforcement placement, core injection, and final trimming in a single injection‑moulding cycle. The process uses carbon‑fibre‑reinforced thermoplastic tapes as load‑bearing skins and a...
Why Did McDonnell Douglas Build The C-17 Globemaster With A T-Tail?
McDonnell Douglas equipped the C‑17 Globemaster with a T‑tail to maximize rear‑cargo clearance and preserve elevator effectiveness during airdrop operations. The high‑mounted horizontal stabilizer, inherited from the YC‑15 prototype, also improves stall recovery and overall pitch stability. Combined with a...
UK E-7 Wedgetail Delay Down to a “Technology Issue”, As MoD Grapples with Slipping Timelines
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the first E‑7 Wedgetail airborne early‑warning aircraft, ordered in 2019, will now be delivered in 2026 after a series of setbacks. Officials traced the delay to a technology issue within Boeing’s certification process,...
Thailand Could Send Its First Science Experiment to the Moon With Ispace
Japan’s lunar‑transport firm ispace and Thailand’s Geo‑Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) have signed an MOU to study a Thai‑built life‑science payload for delivery to the Moon. GISTDA will lead design, development and project management, while ispace will provide...
Frontier Justice: Navigating the Future Legal Landscape for Private Actors in Space Law
The global space economy is set to surge from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.7 trillion by 2035, yet the legal framework remains fragmented and largely government‑centric. Private actors face a regulatory vacuum that could trigger lunar land grabs, inflate costs, and...
March 18, 1965: The First Spacewalk
On March 18, 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov performed the first human spacewalk during the Voskhod 2 mission. He spent roughly 12 minutes outside the capsule before a suit malfunction forced him to depressurize and crawl back, narrowly surviving. While in...
886 Electric Aircraft
The episode covers several aviation news items, highlighted by Surf Air Mobility’s partnership with Beta Technologies to acquire 25 electric CETOL aircraft for inter‑island service in Hawaii and a planned maintenance hub, and Beta’s participation in a U.S. DOT fast‑track...
China Signals New Target for 2027 Asteroid Deflection Test
China’s space agency has identified Aten‑class asteroid 2016 WP8 as the target for its first planetary‑defense kinetic‑impact test, slated for a December 2027 launch on a Long March 3B from Xichang. The mission will deploy two spacecraft—a kinetic impactor that will strike the asteroid...
NASA Grappling with Planetary Science Funding Shortfall
NASA’s planetary science division received $2.54 billion for FY 2026, about $200 million less than the $2.72 billion allocated in the two prior years. The shortfall forces the agency to make "strategic choices" about which missions can continue, with particular uncertainty around the Venus...
The Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse
The Boeing B‑1B Lancer, a long‑range strategic bomber, narrowly avoided cancellation after the Vietnam era left policymakers wary of heavy bombers. Reagan’s 1981 intervention revived the program, leading to the B‑1B’s first flight in October 1984 and operational deployment at...
UK Deepens Ties with Ukraine Space Sector
The UK Space Agency and Ukraine’s State Space Agency have signed a memorandum of understanding, marking the first agency‑to‑agency space agreement between the two nations. The MoU commits both parties to collaborate on civil and commercial space projects, supporting the...
Korean Air Has Ended Airbus A380 Flights On 11 Routes: Full List
Korean Air has retired Airbus A380 service on 11 routes, leaving it with six super‑jumbos – the joint‑second‑smallest A380 fleet worldwide. The carrier previously operated ten A380s, scrapping four, and has already phased out the Boeing 747‑8i. The A380’s last regular European...
TCE Reports Ongoing Demand for TCM Services From Leisure Airlines
Air cargo supervisor TCE reports that leisure airlines continue to demand Total Cargo Management (TCM) services, a trend that accelerated during the Covid pandemic. Previously, cargo was a peripheral revenue stream, but airlines now view it as a core profit...
Vertical Aerospace Advances Valo Certification Amid Liquidity Risks
Vertical Aerospace activates automated battery pilot line, advancing Valo certification while cash burn and liquidity remain key risks; trade: buy after funding or regulatory milestones. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
House Hearing Explores LEO's Future: ISS to Commercial Platforms
House SS&T will hold a hrg on Mar 25 at 10:00 am ET on The Future of LEO: From the ISS to Cmrcl Platforms. NASA's Joel Montalbano (Acting AA for Space Ops Mission Directorate), Dave Cavossa (CSF), Charlie Precourt (mbr,...
GE Aerospace to Expand Additive Manufacturing Capability as Part of €110 Million Investment in European Sites
GE Aerospace announced a €110 million investment to expand additive manufacturing, testing and machining capabilities across five European sites. The plan includes €77 million for Italy, €15 million for Poland, €10 million for the UK, €8 million for the Czech Republic and €3 million for Romania,...
Congress to Examine LEO's Future Beyond the ISS
The House Science Committee's space subcommittee will hold a hearing next Wednesday on "The Future of Low Earth Orbit: From the ISS to Commercial Platforms". https://t.co/OyC3IQLGDd
US EVA-94 Spacewalk Begins on ISS at 1246 UTC
Spacewalk US EVA-94 is underway on the ISS. Astronauts Meir and Williams, in suits 3015 and 3003 and with SAFER packs 15 and 18 depressurized the airlock past 50 mbar at 1246 UTC, opened the hatch at 1251 UTC and...
Forecast $21.9 Billion Light Attack and Trainer Opportunities up for Grabs as Leonardo Lines up M-346
Leonardo is positioning its M‑346 jet to capture a projected $21.9 billion market for light‑attack and trainer aircraft. The aircraft is seen as a cost‑effective replacement for aging trainer fleets and a cheaper alternative to high‑end fighters like the F‑35. CEO...
Roskosmos Launches Parallel Cargo Missions to Recover ISS Supply
Roskosmos conducts a rather rare parallel cargo ship launch campaigns in Baikonur, with Progress MS-34 in early tests and Progress MS-33 on the pad, in an effort to make up the ISS resupply schedule after the November pad accident. Context:...
Air Seychelles Resumes Paris Flights via Leased Aircraft
Air Seychelles is getting creative in light of the current disruptions in the Gulf, as the airline will resume long haul flights to Paris, using a leased plane. https://t.co/hEGV5N7aEe
Japan Deploys Upgraded Type-12 Missiles, Spiking China Tensions
Japan has quietly moved its upgraded Type‑12 surface‑to‑ship missiles to Camp Kengun in Kumamoto, extending strike range to roughly 1,000 km—four times the original capability. The deployment, accelerated to the end of March, gives the Japan Ground Self‑Defense Force a counter‑strike...
United CEO: JetBlue Deal Decision Amid 50% Travel Drop
United CEO Scott Kirby Says Buying JetBlue Is Up To Them — As Government Travel Falls 50% - View from the Wing https://t.co/SCDu2KV8hV
RAeS Hosts One-Day Conference for Hawker Hunter 75th Anniversary
Heads up! Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first flight of the Hawker Hunter this July with a special one-day RAeS conference at @RAF_Cosford #avgeek https://t.co/hHJSpa5u8n https://t.co/F8FXPupIrK
SoCal's Defense Startups Secure Vital Funding Boost
Congress passed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, restoring SBIR and STTR funding for defense startups and extending the programs through 2031. The legislation ends a months‑long funding impasse that left the SBA's $4 billion seed pool exhausted, unlocking...
JFK Near‑miss Highlights Critical Pilot Error
An EVA Air Boeing 777 & Air Canada Jazz Embraer E175 had a very close call at JFK airport, in what can only be described as a major pilot screw-up. https://t.co/bOAVUlfXyr
Expensive Drones Aren’t Foolproof, Costly Shahed Attacks Persist
Reality check: a ~$20k drone does not have a 100% success rate. @wilendhornets's numbers indicate that Shaheds can be stopped with ~95% effectiveness for ~$2k/shahed. So a single successful shahed attack actually costs ~$400k. Drones augment missiles. They don't replace them.