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
ESA Impact: Our Story so Far This Year
In the first quarter of 2026 ESA demonstrated Europe’s autonomous heavy‑lift capability with the successful four‑booster Ariane 6 launch. Copernicus‑3 radar monitored severe flooding in Bordeaux, while astronaut Sophie Adenot joined the International Space Station. A student team prepared a CubeSat radiation experiment, JWST delivered detailed Uranus observations, and the SMILE solar‑wind mission launched in partnership with China. Playmobil also released ESA‑themed toys, highlighting outreach efforts.
Kawasaki Develops Collaborative Drone System
Japanese defense giant Kawasaki Heavy Industries announced development of a Collaborative Support Aircraft (CSA) program, exploring two unmanned platforms: a missile‑like system and a conventional UAV‑type aircraft. The concepts are designed for launch from ground, naval vessels, and airborne carriers...
Astronauts Repair ISS Solar Arrays, Extending 2032 Mission
Today, high above your head, 2 human beings will be working outside in the eternal emptiness of the universe. astro_chrisw (1st spacewalk) & astro_jessica (4th) are improving solar arrays. Needed, as the International Space Station will be up & working through...
AerCap: Right Time for New Airbus Order – Frontier Order Restructured
AerCap announced its first direct Airbus order since 2017, committing to 100 A320neo family jets—23 A320neos and 77 A321neos. Forty‑five of the aircraft are converted options from last year’s Spirit Airlines deal, while the remaining 55 are brand‑new. Airbus will...
Mitsubishi Heavy Integrates Hivemind AI Into Drone
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries completed flight demonstrations of AI‑powered mission autonomy for its ARMD UAV using Shield AI’s Hivemind Enterprise platform. The full development cycle—from AI design and training to hardware integration and flight—was finished in just eight weeks. Demonstrations took...
OHB Sweden to Build Sterna Weather Constellation
The European Space Agency awarded OHB Sweden a contract to build 20 satellites for the EPS‑Sterna weather constellation, with six operational units at any time and two spares. The first six satellites are targeted for launch in 2029, and the...
Check Out The UK Space Agency Space Skills And Careers Resources Guide
On 17 March 2026 the UK Space Agency refreshed its online guide of space‑skills and career resources, consolidating links to training, work‑experience and informational content. The updated list spotlights UKSpace101’s introductory portal, Airbus’s Springpod virtual experience for students aged 13+, Nuffield‑funded...
Jet AirWerks and Stratton Aviation Partner on Engine Teardowns
Jet AirWerks and Stratton Aviation have signed an agreement to disassemble CFM56‑5B/7B engines at Jet AirWerks' Engine Services Center, creating a dedicated pipeline for parts recovery and used serviceable material (USM). The partnership adds dedicated gantry space for Stratton and...
American Airlines Upgrades App With Delay Transparency
American Airlines has rolled out a major update to its mobile app that provides real‑time flight‑delay transparency. The new interface pulls data from multiple sources, including the airline’s own operations center and third‑party flight‑tracking services, to display expected departure and...
Royal Netherlands Navy Receives 12 V-BAT Drones
After extensive testing, the Royal Netherlands Navy has purchased twelve V‑BAT autonomous drones from Shield AI. The drones, fitted with radar and high‑resolution cameras, provide long‑duration, high‑altitude maritime reconnaissance and can operate without satellite connectivity. Control units are being installed...
NASA Successfully Tests 3D Printed Spring Mechanism in Low Earth Orbit
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory successfully tested the Additive Compliant Canister (JACC), a 3‑D‑printed titanium spring mechanism, aboard Proteus Space’s Mercury One satellite in low Earth orbit. The compact device unfolded from a one‑inch stowed height to six inches, demonstrating that...
Air Astana Increases Flight Frequencies for Nauryz Holiday
Air Astana is boosting its international schedule from Almaty for the Nauryz holiday. The carrier adds nine extra Almaty‑Phuket flights and upgrades Almaty‑Phu Quoc to Boeing 767s, raising capacity by 35 %. Additional frequencies include 13 more Almaty‑Delhi services and increased flights...
France Drills Nuclear Deterrence, Sends Signal to Russia
France conducted the “Poker” nuclear‑deterrence exercise, simulating a strike under high‑intensity, degraded‑communication conditions. Around 40 aircraft, including Rafale, Mirage 2000, AWACS and A330 MRTT tankers, practiced against modeled Russian S‑400 air‑defences. The drill underscores President Macron’s “advanced deterrence” concept and invites European...
Oliver Explains: Why Is Airline IT so Clunky?
The article dissects why airline IT feels clunky, citing four core reasons. First, airlines rely on legacy systems built in the 1960s that are difficult and costly to replace, yet must handle complex functions like pricing, seat inventory, revenue sharing,...
Change Incorporation, Configuration Control, and the High Cost of Getting It Wrong
Boeing has assembled more than 30 Boeing 777‑9 airframes while the type certificate remains pending, exposing the program to extensive change incorporation work. Earlier, the 737 MAX grounding and 787 production flaws forced costly rework through shadow factories, taking months per...
Centre Nudges Airlines on Free Seat Allocation, Transparency Norms
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, via the DGCA, has issued new directions mandating airlines to allocate at least 60% of seats free of charge and to seat passengers on the same PNR together where feasible. The guidelines also require clear...
NovAtel Releases GAJT-AE3 GNSS Anti-Jam Antenna for Airborne Applications
Hexagon’s NovAtel has launched the GAJT‑AE3, a compact GNSS anti‑jam antenna aimed at airborne platforms. The unit is the first in the GAJT line to offer full multi‑constellation, multi‑frequency protection, creating up to seven nulls per band and providing multi‑jammer...
Iran’s Space Research Centre Destroyed in Israeli Air Strikes
Israeli forces struck Iran’s primary Space Research Centre in Tehran on March 13, part of a broader wave of attacks on the capital. The centre, which oversees satellite design, propulsion and high‑resolution imaging, is a cornerstone of Iran’s dual‑use space...
Nepal's Danfé Airlines Obtains NOC Amid Launch Efforts
Danfé Airlines secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Nepal's civil aviation authority, clearing a key regulatory hurdle toward launch. The carrier plans to operate ATR turboprop aircraft on domestic routes, building on an AOC application filed in May 2025....
Watch Live Today: NASA Astronauts Conducting Spacewalk Delayed by ISS Medical Evacuation
NASA postponed a long‑delayed EVA after the International Space Station’s first medical evacuation forced a reshuffle of crew assignments. Astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will now perform a 6.5‑hour spacewalk on March 18, marking the first EVAs of 2026 and...
That Time Wernher Von Braun’s Rocket Tried To Kill My Father (Repost)
On March 18, 1945, Germany’s Battery 485 launched a V‑2 missile from The Hague that struck London minutes later, narrowly missing the father of NASA Watch founder Keith Cowing. The V‑2’s groundbreaking propulsion and guidance technology was seized after the war and...
Cathay Pacific Extends Dubai, Riyadh Flight Suspension to April 2026
JUST IN: Cathay Pacific cancels passenger and cargo flights to Dubai and Riyadh until April 30, 2026 due to the volatile situation in the Middle East. Initially, the suspension of operations to these two destination was until March 30, 2026....
Free Space Lecture by RAeS & IET, March 18
Free space lecture, RAeS Farnborough Branch, 18 March (with the IET) Skynet Stories https://t.co/cnpzx0gqO3 https://t.co/0kVai1yf4T
U.S. Air Force Boosts Raytheon AEHF Terminal Deal by $2 B, Total Near $3 B
On March 13, 2026 the U.S. Air Force announced a $2 billion modification to Raytheon’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite‑terminal contract, lifting the total potential value to $2.97 billion. The work, split between Raytheon facilities in Marlborough, Massachusetts and Largo, Florida,...
Air Force Revisiting Production Goals for CCA with Eye Toward ‘Scale’
The U.S. Air Force is re‑evaluating how many Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) it will produce, with a decision expected this summer that could push deliveries beyond the original 100‑unit target for 2029. General Dale R. White indicated the service is...
Isar Aerospace Wins First European Small‑Sat Launch for Astroscale’s Active Debris‑Removal Mission
On March 17 2026, Isar Aerospace signed a launch service agreement with Astroscale Ltd to fly the 520 kg ELSA‑M in‑orbit demonstration from its Spectrum rocket at Andøya Space in Norway. The mission, backed by the UK Space Agency and ESA’s ARTES Sunrise...
AeroVironment Buys ESAero for $200M, Bolstering UAS Manufacturing Capabilities
On March 17, 2026, AeroVironment Inc. announced the completion of a $200 million acquisition of Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) in San Luis Obispo, California. The deal, financed with roughly $160 million in stock and the balance in cash, brings ESAero’s 32,000‑sq‑ft design...
UK Defence Minister Labels Boeing ‘Troubled Partner’ as E‑7 Wedgetail Delays Push IOC to 2026
On March 17, 2026, Rupert Pearce, the UK Ministry of Defence’s national armaments director, told the House of Commons Defence Committee that Boeing had become a “troubled partner” in the E‑7 Wedgetail airborne early‑warning program, which is now unlikely to...
NASA Delays Artemis II Rocket Rollout to March 20, Slightly Shifts Moon Mission Timeline
NASA announced on March 19 that the rollout of the Artemis II Space Launch System from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center has been postponed to March 20. The delay stems from a faulty electrical harness in the...
What Is Fractional Orbital Bombardment, and Why Is It Important?
The Soviet Union deployed a fractional orbital bombardment system (FOBS) using the R‑36O missile from 1969 until the early 1980s, fielding a single regiment of 18 silos. Its chief value was geometric: delivering a nuclear warhead from unexpected southern azimuths...
Lite Coms Executives Talk Multi-Orbit Innovation and the Future of Tactical VSAT
Lite Coms, a seven‑year‑old satcom firm, has deployed almost 1,000 tactical VSAT terminals for U.S. and allied forces. Its core strategy centers on multi‑orbit, constellation‑agnostic terminals that operate across GEO, MEO and LEO networks, highlighted by the upcoming 2026 Ku/Ka...
China’s Space Program Past, Present, and Future
China’s space program has transformed into a full‑spectrum state system by March 2026, operating the Tiangong space station, a growing satellite‑internet fleet, and advanced lunar and deep‑space missions. Recent milestones include Chang’e‑6’s far‑side sample return and Tianwen‑2’s asteroid‑return flight, while reusable...
What Specifications Does a Space Telescope Need to See the Earliest Light in the Universe
Detecting the universe’s first light demands a cold, space‑based infrared telescope with a large aperture. JWST’s 6.5‑m mirror and 0.6‑28 µm coverage have already revealed galaxies at redshift > 14, but its sensitivity limits studies beyond z ≈ 16. Future concepts call for 12‑15 m mirrors, sub‑40 K...
The World’s Operational ICBMs: A 2026 Assessment
The 2026 assessment of operational intercontinental ballistic missiles shows a reshaped strategic picture. Russia’s heavyweight RS‑28 Sarmat remains non‑operational after a series of test failures, while China has rapidly loaded over 100 DF‑31‑class missiles into new silo complexes, marking its fastest...
Ursa Major Company Profile
Ursa Major has shifted from a launch‑engine startup to a diversified propulsion supplier focused on defense and hypersonics. Its Hadley engine achieved repeated Mach‑5 reusable flights with Stratolaunch and secured a $32.9 million follow‑on contract, while the Draper storable liquid engine...
Space Force Overhauls Buying Structure with New Mission Portfolios
The U.S. Space Force is introducing Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) to manage groups of systems tied to specific missions rather than individual programs. Four initial portfolios—infrastructure, battle management, satellite communications/positioning, navigation and timing, and missile warning and tracking—will give PAEs...
Air Force Scales Back B-52 Radar Upgrade Program, Plans New Engine Testing
The Air Force is scaling back the B‑52 Radar Modernization Program, delivering a minimum‑viable product and postponing the new wideband nose radome. It will continue testing the Raytheon AN/APQ‑188 radar with the legacy radome, aiming for a low‑rate production decision...
BAE Systems Secures U.S. Air Force Contract to Modernize U-2 Advanced Defensive System
BAE Systems has secured a contract from the U.S. Air Force to sustain and modernize the AN/ALQ‑221 Advanced Defensive System on the U‑2 Dragon Lady fleet. The agreement covers field service support, repairs, and software upgrades to counter evolving electronic threats....
Office of Space Commerce Weighing Options for TraCSS User Fees
The Office of Space Commerce is weighing user‑fee options for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) after a December executive order stripped the “free of direct user fees” language from Space Policy Directive 3. Officials say no decision has been...
American Airlines’ Creative Systemwide Upgrade Promotion Could Be Lucrative
American Airlines is running a limited‑time promotion that guarantees systemwide upgrades to business class for passengers who purchase premium‑economy tickets on eligible international flights departing in August 2026. The upgrade is confirmed within hours as long as business‑class seats remain...
SUN ’N FUN 2026 Airshow Schedule, NOTAM Released
The SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo released its 2026 airshow schedule and the FAA’s accompanying NOTAM. The event runs April 14‑19 at Lakeland Linder International Airport, showcasing military demonstration teams such as the Thunderbirds, an F‑22 Raptor demo, and the Navy’s...
American Airlines Improves but Still Hides Delay Reasons
@americanair finally fixed one of the most annoying parts of flying, but only halfway… It’s a good start, but American should let everyone see delay and cancellation reasons. Right now, the only “hack” is to enroll in text alerts for every flight...
E-2D Hawkeye Deploys to Counter Iranian Drone Threats
Navy E-2D Hawkeye Radar Planes Appear To Be Rushing To The Middle East The E-2D is America's most capable platform for spotting drones and other low-flying Iranian threats that are wreaking havoc on Gulf Arab States. https://t.co/0X8hOJvdao
Voyager-2’s only Close-Up Image of Uranus’s Moon Umbriel
Voyager‑2’s 1986 flyby produced the sole close‑up photograph of Uranus’s moon Umbriel, captured from 346,000 miles away with roughly 6‑mile resolution. The image reveals a heavily cratered, ultra‑dark surface that reflects only 16% of sunlight, similar to lunar highlands. A...
SLS/Orion May Return to Pad Thursday, Decision Tomorrow
Looks like SLS/Orion MIGHT roll back to pad on Thursday after all. They’ll decide tomorrow (Wed.).
New Airship Generation Revives Lighter‑Than‑Air Aviation
"There is a real sense of optimism that... a new generation of airships will return lighter-than-air flight to the heart of the wider aviation industry" #avgeek #aviation https://t.co/1KHaTWqAbF https://t.co/3dmKYCQIjJ
Evolve Dynamics Appoints Paul Finn-Kelcey as Chief Product Officer to Scale British Uncrewed Systems
Evolve Dynamics has hired former Dyson product leader Paul Finn‑Kelcey as its inaugural Chief Product Officer. The move is aimed at industrialising the company’s small uncrewed aerial systems—FOXE, WOLFE and SKY MANTIS 2—for the British Armed Forces and NATO allies. Finn‑Kelcey will...
Boeing 737 MAX Crashes Kill 346, Shareholders Profit
346 People Died In Boeing 737 MAX Crashes — But Shareholders May Get Paid The Most - View from the Wing https://t.co/kIFkOJ6sXF
Build A Rocket Boy Splits From IOI Partners
Build A Rocket Boy is on its own with MindsEye as it separates from IOI Partners. https://t.co/eHIWuWWJh8
Why Novaspace Says In-Orbit Refuelling Is Vital for Space Superiority
Novaspace’s new white paper argues that the United States and Europe must prioritize in‑orbit satellite refuelling to secure space superiority. The paper, based on a 2025 conference of defense, commercial and investment leaders, warns that current propellant limits constrain satellite...