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 Picks 16 Finalists for LunaRecycle Challenge Phase 2
NASA announced 16 finalists for Phase 2 of the LunaRecycle Challenge, a $3 million competition aimed at creating waste‑recycling technologies for lunar missions. The teams, drawn from 11 U.S. states, will spend the next six months refining prototypes or digital‑twin systems before a live demonstration in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, scheduled for August. Ten prototype teams earned $50,000 awards, while six digital‑twin concepts received $25,000 each. NASA expects the solutions to support Artemis sustainability goals and potentially improve recycling processes on Earth.
U.S. Navy Awards Contract to Maintain TacNet Missile Datalink Radios
The U.S. Navy has awarded a $347,318 contract to Rockwell Collins to repair and reconfigure TacNet 1.0 datalink radios used on the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) and Harpoon Block II+ missiles. The sole‑source award, issued by the Naval Air Systems Command’s Precision...
Turkish Airlines Takes a “Measured Capacity Expansion” As It Confronts Headwinds
Turkish Airlines posted a solid 2025 financial year, with revenue rising 6.3% to $24.1 billion and passenger revenues climbing 7.4% to $19.8 billion on 92 million travelers. The fourth quarter was especially strong, delivering a 12.7% year‑over‑year revenue increase to $5.1 billion. Cargo earnings...
Aircraft Leasing Gains Altitude at GIFT City
Aircraft leasing activity in India's International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City surged from 63 units in December 2024 to 196 units by December 2025, a 211% increase. The leased fleet, now valued at $6.886 billion, attracted $615 million of financing...
U.S. Army National Guard Buys Small FPV Strike Drones
The Tennessee Army National Guard has issued solicitations to purchase small unmanned aerial systems, including the Neros Archer, FlightWave Edge 130, and ModalAI Stinger Vision FPV drones, for use by the 117th Regiment Regional Training Institute. Each solicitation calls for two...
Japan Prepares Long-Range Strike Capability with New Missile Systems
Japan is set to field domestically developed long‑range missiles, including the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP) and an upgraded Type‑12, between fiscal years 2025 and 2027. The rollout will be complemented by U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles and a new ISR...
March 8, 1986: The Second of Five Probes Flies by Halley’s Comet
On March 8 1986, Japan’s Suisei probe became the second spacecraft to fly past Halley’s Comet, part of an international “Halley Armada” that also included two Soviet Vega probes, Japan’s Sakigake, and ESA’s Giotto. The comet’s perihelion occurred on February 9, placing it...
More than 5 Hours Above Mach 3.0: SR-71 Pilot Recalls 11.13 Hours Mission During the Yom Kippur War
On October 13, 1973, SR‑71 pilots Jim Shelton and Gary Coleman completed an 11.13‑hour sortie from Griffiss AFB, flying over five hours above Mach 3.0 and refueling six times to gather critical photo intelligence over the Yom Kippur War theater. The...
France’s Aldoria Inks Agreement With India’s AXISCADES For Optical Station Based SSA
French space‑tech firm Aldoria has signed a contract with Indian engineering company AXISCADES to deliver optical stations for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) in India. The first station will be deployed in 2026, with a phased rollout targeting more than a...
HEBI Robotics Awarded $850,000 Business Contract by NASA
NASA has granted HEBI Robotics an $850,000 Phase II SBIR contract to develop and test space‑rated actuation hardware. The two‑year effort will produce modular actuators and compatible avionics for low‑Earth‑orbit and geosynchronous missions. HEBI’s technology aims to survive ionizing radiation and...
A New Low Earth Orbit Regime Must Be Grounded in Geopolitics, Not Detached From It
Low Earth Orbit is on track to host up to half a million satellites by 2040, driven by aggressive mega‑constellation plans from both commercial firms and nation‑states. Existing licensing relies on UN notifications and national approvals, with little cross‑agency coordination,...
Malaysia Airlines Deploys Additional European Services to Support Travellers Amid Global Disruptions
Malaysia Airlines announced supplemental Kuala Lumpur‑London Heathrow and Kuala Lumpur‑Paris Charles de Gaulle flights from 6‑8 March 2026, adding capacity amid widespread travel disruptions. The airline will operate the extra services with A350‑900 aircraft alongside its daily schedule, using alternative routes that...
NTSB Board Member J. Todd Inman Abruptly Departs Safety Watchdog
J. Todd Inman, one of five members of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, has abruptly left the agency, according to sources. His departure follows the Senate’s Feb. 25 confirmation of John Deleeuw, former American Airlines safety chief, which restored the...
Israeli Space Startup Remondo Unveils A Unique Cost-Cutting Plan
Israeli startup Remondo unveiled its Partial Aperture Imaging System (PAIS), a novel approach that replaces costly large mirrors and sensors with rings of smaller mirrors, a light modulator and coding to achieve 30‑cm resolution imagery. The design cuts satellite development...
NASA Awards ULA’s Centaur-5 Upper Stage for Future SLS Launches
NASA announced a sole‑source contract awarding United Launch Alliance (ULA) the Centaur‑5 upper stage for future Space Launch System (SLS) flights after Artemis‑3. The decision leverages the proven RL10 engine heritage, compatibility with Mobile Launcher 1, and ULA’s existing work with...
Belgium's UAE Evacuation Proves Civil Protection Mechanism Works
Belgium just airlifted 198 of their own + 39 citizens from other member states out of the UAE using the A330 MRTT via Muscat and Hurghada. This is why the Civil Protection Mechanism exists and it actually worked.
Royal Navy Crowsnest Airborne Surveillance Helicopters Deployed to Cyprus
Royal Navy Merlin HM2 helicopters fitted with the Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control system have departed RNAS Culdrose for a self‑deployed deployment to Cyprus. The Thales Searchwater pulse‑Doppler radar can detect low‑flying UAVs such as Shahed drones at ranges up...
Honest Real Time Answers From NASA
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman answered a public query on Twitter in real time, rejecting the notion that the agency faces a budget shortfall. He highlighted that NASA receives roughly $25 billion annually, plus an additional $10 billion from the recent bipartisan funding...
American Airlines Unveils Four New A321XLR Europe Winter Routes—Here's Where They'll Fly
American Airlines will launch four new winter transatlantic routes to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Edinburgh and Lisbon using its Airbus A321XLR. The narrow‑body jet, capable of carrying 155 passengers, will operate from Philadelphia between late January and late March, filling seasonal demand that...
Why The Original Boeing 737-700 Concept Still Influences Fleet Strategy
The Boeing 737‑700 remains a linchpin of low‑cost carrier strategy in 2026, offering a rare blend of range, speed, and operational simplicity. Its high‑performance wing, CFM56‑7B engines, and 41,000‑ft service ceiling deliver fuel‑efficient, high‑altitude cruising that outperforms many newer narrowbodies....
Overture Cabin Redefines Space: Taller Doors, No Middle Seats
Overture cabin: - Entry door is 6’ 3”, 1” taller than 737, 10” taller than Concorde - Forward aisle height peaks at over eight feet, with a minimum of 6’ 8” - Last row aisle is 6’2”, about the same as a...
Qatar Airways Launches Limited Feeder Flights to Doha
From 8 March Qatar Airways will operate limited flights to London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Madrid, Rome, Frankfurt and Bangkok. These flights are ONLY for passengers whose final destination is Doha, the airline said in a statement.
A Side-by-Side of AA V. UA at ORD
American Airlines and United Airlines are expanding service at Chicago O'Hare, but the growth in flight frequencies exceeds the growth in available seats. United’s increase outpaces American’s, highlighting a more aggressive capacity push. Larger aircraft configurations are being deployed, which...
Iran's Missile Strikes Fall, Drones Persist via China
We've seen a confirmed drop in Iran's missile attacks, but drones remain the larger LT threat. The complication that I'll be following closely is China's role. With Chinese shipments of drone components still entering Iran, the US will have to...
Odd: Uganda Airlines Grounds A330neo Fleet For “Unscheduled Maintenance”
Uganda Airlines has grounded both of its Airbus A330‑800neo aircraft after unscheduled maintenance, leaving its long‑haul fleet idle since mid‑January 2026. The airline announced a suspension of all long‑haul services on February 20, affecting routes to Dubai, London Gatwick and...
Crain's Chicago Business on American Airlines V. United Airlines at O'Hare
American Airlines and United Airlines are slated to boost their summer 2026 schedules at O'Hare by double‑digit percentages, pushing the airport's traffic to roughly 15% above last summer levels. The surge includes dozens of new nonstop flights to smaller markets,...
The Last Four Years Ch. 21: Astrum Aerospace Launches First Colonists to the Moon Amid Global Uncertainty
Astrum Aerospace successfully launched its first crew of Moon colonists, marking the inaugural step in CEO Sanjay Forrester's plan to create off‑world havens amid an impending comet threat. The mission, featuring botanist Dr. Lena Zhou and habitat engineer Marco Diaz,...
Brussels Airlines Invests in Improved Onboard Product for Passengers in All Booking Classes
Brussels Airlines is rolling out a comprehensive upgrade of its inflight product across all cabins, with the most significant investment in Premium Economy on long‑haul routes. The refresh includes premium tableware, three hot‑meal choices, enhanced entertainment accessories, and a new...
AMAL Resumes Jeddah, Madinah Flights March
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said AMAL by Malaysia Airlines will resume flights to Jeddah and Madinah from Kuala Lumpur starting 8 March 2026 following a brief period of limited flights due to the closure of Middle East airspace. Flights to...
M-SAAVE Completes Humanitarian UAV Mission and Launches New Clean Air Initiative
The University of Michigan M‑SAAVE student team completed a five‑year Humanitarian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Mission (HUM) with Air Serv International, showcasing a modular aircraft capable of aid drops and RGB/infrared imaging. The team delivered a comprehensive technical package to Air...
Delta Air Faces Multi-Million-Dollar Fine After Hundreds of Passengers Were Left Trapped On Planes at Atlanta Hartsfield On Friday
Delta Air Lines faced a severe hailstorm at Atlanta Hartsfield‑Jackson Airport that forced the control tower to evacuate and prompted the FAA to issue a full ground stop. Delta chose to keep the stop in place, leaving hundreds of passengers...
Singapore Airlines Suspends Singapore‑Dubai Flights Until 2026
Singapore Airlines has cancelled all flights to and from Singapore-Dubai until 15 March 2026 due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
Living in Space Can Change Where Your Brain Sits in Your Skull – New Research
A new MRI analysis of 26 astronauts reveals that microgravity causes the brain to shift upward and backward inside the skull, with movements up to more than 2 mm in year‑long missions. The study segmented the brain into over 100 regions,...
Pentagon Authorizes $53M Upgrade for LRASM Production Line
The Pentagon approved a $53.1 million contract modification for Lockheed Martin to upgrade the Long‑Range Anti‑Ship Missile (LRASM) production line, adding tooling and test equipment to boost output. The amendment lifts the overall contract value to $462.9 million and extends work through November 2028....
U.S. Army Evaluates SlingWorks Drone Strike System
The U.S. Army tested Elbit America’s SlingWorks launched effects system during the CDF CFWE 26 exercise at Yuma Proving Ground. The demonstration, conducted with soldiers from the 1st Armored Division, showed the platform’s ability to share targeting data across existing Army networks...
Rare Boeing 747 (Operated by IRIAF) Cargo Aircraft Targeted and Destroyed at Mehrabad Airport
A U.S. and Israeli strike on March 7 destroyed the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force's rare Boeing 747 cargo aircraft at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport. The aircraft, a modified 747‑100 used for long‑range logistics and previously spotted delivering military supplies...
Boeing 777X Promises Wider Cabin, Larger Windows for Comfort
The Boeing 777X will be Boeing’s next-generation flagship widebody. Its cabin introduces larger windows, a wider interior and redesigned overhead bins designed to improve passenger comfort on long-haul flights. Would you choose the 777X for your next long-haul journey?
What the Reports Say About Pakistan’s J-35 Stealth Fighter Deal
Since early 2024, multiple sources have indicated that Pakistan is negotiating to become the first export customer for China’s Shenyang J‑35 stealth fighter, with reports of a 40‑aircraft order accompanied by HQ‑19 missiles and KJ‑500 AEW&C systems. Although Pakistani officials...
JWST Confirms 2032 Asteroid Won’t Hit Earth or Moon
Remember the asteroid we thought might hit Earth or the Moon in 2032? New data from the JWST shows it will hit NEITHER. JWST's IR eyes are great for this because the asteroid is tiny and far, and thus, really dim....
US to Field 2,400 F‑35s, Becoming Fourth‑largest Air Force
The US is planning to build up a fleet of 2400 F-35s, which would make it the 4th largest global air force alone. https://t.co/YAnXK2vCUQ
Book Review: The Islands and the Stars: A History of Japan’s Space Programs
Subodhana Wijeyeratne’s "The Islands and the Stars" offers the first comprehensive English‑language chronicle of Japan’s space program, tracing its evolution from 1920s wartime rocketry to the 2003 creation of JAXA. The book highlights Japan’s early emphasis on unmanned missions, the...
Iranian Radar Strikes Expose Global Missile Defense Weaknesses
Iranian Attacks On Critical Missile Defense Radars Are A Wake-Up Call Iran's successful targeting of prized missile defense radars in the Middle East highlights global vulnerabilities. Feature: https://t.co/vGqhORYAMn
BlackSky Global Satellite Successfully Launched Into 467‑477 Km Orbit
The BlackSky Global satellite launched on Electron on Mar 5-6 has been cataloged in a 467 x 477 km x 42.0 deg orbit, confirming successful launch.
SEKISUI KYDEX Unveils Latest Eco-Conscious Product Development
SEKISUI KYDEX introduced KYDEX® ECO™ 6565HI, a new aviation‑interior material built on renewable raw materials and verified life‑cycle assessment data. The thermoplastic sheet delivers an 8% cut in global warming potential and a 195% reduction in acidification potential while remaining...
Starship Flight 12 Slated for Early April Launch
🚨STARSHIP LAUNCH WINDOW UPDATE According to Musk we should see Starship Flight 12 in the first week of April.
Russia's Comsat Failure Highlights Delayed Domestic Satellite Plans
Russia's Ekspress-AT1 comsat shuts down mysteriously as Roskosmos is struggling to transition to domestic development of communications satellites. The replacement is promised at the end of 2030... if money available. Details: https://t.co/OeG1s4wfhC https://t.co/gjAig4ks29
Airport Worker Hospitalized After United Airlines 737 Collies With Deicing Truck at Denver International Airport
On March 6, a United Airlines Boeing 737 collided with a deicing truck at Denver International Airport during a cold‑weather departure. The impact knocked the truck onto its side, injuring the contractor driver who was hospitalized. The flight, UA‑605 to...
Ukraine Hits Shahed Missile Hub at Donetsk Airport
Ukraine’s General Staff posted footage of a strike on Shahed storage and launch location in Donetsk airport with ATACMS and SCALP missiles. https://t.co/r3Dg02y4Ci https://t.co/pt5k00tXIW
SpaceX’s Simple Plan: Moon, Mars, Robots, Multiplanetary Future
Explain like I'm 5. The SpaceX roadmap, from their children's book: • Moon, Mars, Beyond ✔️ • Making Life Multiplanetary 🔜 Mars ✔️ • Robots working it ✔️
Qatar Airways Launches Repatriation Flights to Europe Amid Shutdown
Qatar Airways to operate repatriation flights from Doha to Europe as air traffic stays shut https://t.co/ZSCBkVAHme