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
The Premium Economy Boom That Expanded Fast Is Now A Revenue Staple
Premium economy, first introduced in the late 1970s, has evolved into a core revenue product for airlines worldwide. Today, carriers from legacy to hybrid low‑cost operators equip new A350 and 787 aircraft with factory‑installed premium cabins offering up to 42‑inch seat pitch and added services such as priority boarding and enhanced meals. The segment enables airlines to capture price‑sensitive travelers willing to pay more than economy but less than business, improving load factors and yields. Social media buzz, like a viral TikTok review of Air Premia, underscores growing consumer demand.
UK Airport Hopes Hydrogen-Powered Ground Equipment Will Cut Emissions
Exeter Airport in the UK is conducting a second two‑week winter trial of hydrogen‑powered ground support equipment, focusing on a dual‑fuel (hydrogen/diesel) ground power unit operating in cold, inclement weather. The trial follows an April test that deployed a hydrogen...
Near Earth Autonomy and Team Fly Uncrewed Logistics Black Hawks
Near Earth Autonomy, together with Honeywell, Moog and XP Services, has completed a year of integration and flight testing for the RUC‑60, an optionally crewed Black Hawk converted for autonomous logistics. The team demonstrated the first fully automated takeoff‑to‑landing flight...
Canada and India Move to Update Decades-Old Space Ties
Canada and India marked the 30th anniversary of their space collaboration by agreeing to a new Implementing Arrangement that expands joint work in atmospheric science, space robotics, human spaceflight, quantum communications and AI‑driven aerospace. The deal builds on agreements from...
Introducing the 'Interplanetary Habitable Zone'
NASA astrobiologist Dr. Caleb Scharf introduces the Interplanetary Habitable Zone (IHZ), a multidimensional extension of the classic Goldilocks concept that incorporates power availability, radiation risk, transport difficulty, and material resources. His agent‑based simulation shows how a technological civilization might migrate...
WestJet’s First 737 MAX 10 Takes Flight
WestJet’s first 737 MAX 10, registration C‑FMWY, completed its maiden flight on March 2, marking the launch operator role for the new variant. The Canadian carrier now holds 96 firm MAX 10 orders with options for 25, after expanding its fleet with a 60‑aircraft...
The Royal Air Force Would Have Been Better With MiG-21s
The article examines a hypothetical swap of the RAF’s English Electric Lightning with the Soviet MiG‑21, focusing on late‑1950s to mid‑1960s interceptor variants. It compares climb performance, speed, simplicity, and weapons load, arguing that the MiG‑21’s rapid climb and lower...
No Injuries After Door Separates From Aircraft In Alaska
A Grant Aviation GA‑8 Airvan lost its left rear sliding door while en route from Eek to Bethel, Alaska, on Feb. 28. The aircraft continued to Bethel and landed safely with no injuries reported. The incident is being monitored by...
MDA Space Reports Record Revenue Again in 2025, Driven by Satellite Manufacturing Progress
MDA Space posted a record C$1.63 billion in 2025 revenue, a 51% year‑over‑year jump, driven largely by its Satellite Systems division. That segment surged 85.5% to C$1.1 billion, fueled by contracts for Low‑Earth‑Orbit constellations with Globalstar and Telesat Lightspeed. Adjusted net income...
French-German Fighter Program on Life Support as Dassault Blames Airbus
The French‑German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter program is on the brink of collapse after Dassault Aviation publicly accused Airbus of refusing to collaborate on the next‑generation jet. Dassault’s CEO Eric Trappier warned that without Airbus’s participation the project...
US Pentagon Claims to Have Severely Damaged Iranian Capabilities, Promises to Increase Attacks
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Operation Epic Fury has severely damaged Iran’s military capability, claiming the Iranian Air Force is eliminated and 20 Navy vessels—including a frigate—were destroyed in international waters. The Pentagon pledged to intensify pressure on Tehran by...
The First Orbiting Private Space Telescope Releases “First Light” Image
Blue Skies Space’s privately owned telescope Mauve has achieved its first‑light observation, capturing a five‑second ultraviolet exposure of the bright star eta Ursae Majoris. Although its 5‑inch mirror is far smaller than Hubble’s, the space‑based platform delivers clarity beyond any ground‑based instrument....
The Voice of Mission Control: Jenni Gibbons on Guiding Artemis 2 to the Moon
Canadian astronaut Jenni Gibbons has been appointed Capsule Communicator (Capcom) for NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar flight in over five decades. As the sole voice from Mission Control to the four‑person crew, she will translate complex flight‑control data...
Mutable Tactics Raises $2.1 Million for AI Drone Coordination in Satellite-Denied Environments
Mutable Tactics, a British AI startup, secured $2.1 million in pre‑seed funding to build software that lets swarms of military drones operate autonomously when satellite navigation and communications are unavailable. The round was led by Seraphim Space, with participation from the...
RMT Spotlights Collapsible ATLAS Drawer
RMT Global Partners introduced the Collapsible ATLAS Drawer, a lightweight galley drawer that folds flat when not in use. Designed with input from caterers and cabin crews, the drawer features snap‑open and quick‑collapse mechanisms that speed loading and reduce handling...
Aviation Traffic Paralyzed by Iran Conflict
The Iran‑Israel conflict has effectively shut down the airspace over the Persian Gulf, halting normal operations for the Gulf’s three largest carriers—Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad. Only a minimal trickle of repatriation flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha is...
226 - Is Orbital Cleanup the Launchpad for Asteroid Mining?
In this episode, host explores the growing problem of orbital debris and its potential as a springboard for asteroid mining. Joel Sercel, CEO and founder of TransAstra, explains how his company’s capture technology can safely remove defunct satellites and repurpose...
Return of the (Space) SPAC
Former investment banker Raphael Roettgen revived a space‑focused SPAC in early 2026 after a four‑year hiatus, raising about $230 million in trust to seek a merger with a space‑related company. The new vehicle, Space Asset Acquisition Corp., reflects a broader revival...
How Pakistan’s GIDS Aims to Win in Saudi Arabia’s Surging Defence Market
Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) showcased its expanded munitions and drone lineup at the 2026 World Defense Show in Riyadh, signalling a focused push into Saudi Arabia’s booming defence market. CEO Asad Kamal emphasized the company’s willingness to transfer...
CAAS Makes Plans for Singapore’s Airspace
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) outlined a strategic plan to manage rapid air‑traffic growth in the Asia‑Pacific region. CAAS provides navigation services over 670,000 km², with 400 controllers handling 676,000 movements annually, including 374,000 at Changi Airport in 2025—a...
GomSpace Secures €7.6 Million Contract for Defense-Grade RF Monitoring Cluster
GomSpace announced a €7.6 million contract with Rome‑based VirtuaLabs to deliver a satellite cluster for space‑based RF environment monitoring. The partnership blends GomSpace’s modular satellite platforms with VirtuaLabs’ electronic‑warfare payload expertise, targeting institutional‑grade ISR capabilities. Delivery of the fully integrated cluster...
He Thinks AI Code May Break Everything - EP 59 Will Wilson
In this episode, host Ashley Vance talks with Will Wilson, co‑founder of Antithesis, about the chronic unreliability of software and why traditional example‑based testing fails. Wilson explains how Antithesis uses deterministic simulations and property‑based (autonomous) testing to expose unknown‑unknown bugs...
Sony to Showcase Advanced Drone Imaging and Sensor Technologies at Amsterdam Drone Week 2026
Sony will exhibit at Amsterdam Drone Week 2026, showcasing its imaging and sensor portfolio for commercial drones. The lineup includes the full‑frame ILX‑LR1 camera, Alpha series cameras, the FCB‑ER9500 4K/60 block camera, and the AS‑DT1 miniature LiDAR sensor. Sony also...
Press Release: Gilat Secures Multi-Million Dollar IFC Hardware Order
Gilat Satellite Networks announced a multi‑million‑dollar order from a leading in‑flight connectivity integrator for its AeroStream Ka‑band wideband amplifiers. The hardware, including 60 W Ka‑band block upconverters, will be delivered over the next 24 months to equip commercial aircraft. Gilat notes...
Russia Fixes Launch Pad Damaged by Thanksgiving Astronaut Launch to the International Space Station
Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31, the only pad used for crewed Soyuz flights, was out of service after a Nov 27, 2025 launch damaged its service cabin and infrastructure. Roscosmos announced on March 3 that a 150‑person team completed extensive repairs, replacing 2,350 square meters...
Guidance: Air Safety Management System Overview (ASMsO)
The UK Ministry of Defence is offering a two‑day Air Safety Management System Overview (ASMsO) course to equip military personnel with the knowledge to develop and manage air safety management systems. The blended program covers the 16 functional elements of...
ESA to Open Call for European-Led Space Station Studies
The European Space Agency (ESA) has issued a call for tenders to conduct two Pre‑Phase A studies assessing the feasibility of a European‑led, modular space station in low‑Earth orbit. The studies will examine architecture, utilization, and technology needs, and will explore...
Telespazio Deploys LEO-Based Mobile Satcom for Brazil’s Presidential Security Office
Telespazio Brasil, a Leonardo‑Thales joint venture, has rolled out VELOCE, a low‑Earth‑orbit mobile satellite communications system for Brazil’s Institutional Security Office. The solution offers high‑speed, low‑latency voice and data links across the entire country, including the remote Amazon region where...
Press Release: SkySelect Raises $9m to Fix Aviation’s $11bn Supply Chain Crisis with AI Procurement
SkySelect announced a $9 million funding round to scale its AI‑powered aviation procurement platform, aiming to alleviate the $11 billion supply‑chain crisis highlighted by IATA. Airlines spend $60 billion annually on parts, yet manual processes generate $50 billion in excess inventory and grounding delays....
Indian Air Force Conducts Major Exercise ‘Vayu Shakti 2026’ at Pokhran
On February 27 the Indian Air Force staged Exercise Vayushakti‑26 at Pokhran, field‑testing more than 130 aircraft across fighter, transport, and helicopter fleets. President Droupadi Murmu attended and flew in an indigenously built HAL Prachand light combat helicopter. The drill featured...
Reliable Space Rescue Is a Prerequisite for Continued Economic Opportunity in Space and We Have a Long Way to Go
SpaceX Crew 11’s emergency return in January 2026 marked the first crew rescue from orbit, proving that a rapid LEO evacuation is possible. The rescue highlighted a stark gap: no reliable, on‑demand capability exists for commercial missions beyond low Earth orbit. As...
Heritage Foundation Rates Space Force ‘Marginal’
The Heritage Foundation’s 2026 Index of US Military Strength gave the U.S. Space Force a marginal overall grade, citing severe shortfalls in resources, capacity, and readiness for contested space operations. The report highlights deficiencies in communications, weather forecasting, space domain...
American Airlines Blasts United for Flooding Chicago O’Hare to Block Gates — The Employee Memo Isn’t Signed by CEO Robert...
American Airlines issued an internal memo, signed by its COO and chief commercial officer, accusing United Airlines of flooding Chicago O’Hare with flights to manipulate gate allocations under a unique lease provision. The memo’s omission of CEO Robert Isom raises...
Blue Origin’s Surprise TeraWave Constellation Jolts LEO Broadband Race
Blue Origin filed an FCC application for a hybrid LEO‑MEO broadband system called TeraWave, proposing 5,280 low‑Earth orbit satellites operating in Q‑ and V‑bands and 128 medium‑Earth orbit satellites linked by lasers. The architecture promises point‑to‑point links delivering up to...
El Al Resumes Limited Ops as Tel Aviv Reopens
El Al Israel Airlines will restart inbound services on 4 March 2026, operating a single flight per hour as Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport reopens. The limited schedule focuses on repatriating Israelis stranded in 22 European, Asian and U.S. locations, while outbound sales are...
Warp Nacelle Print Collapse Leaves Me with Spaghetti
Well dang. Bound to happen. Enterprise’s warp nacelle pylon’s fell during printing and I got spaghetti.
Senate Bill Gives Strong Backing to NASA's Artemis Revamp
The US Senate's new 'reauthorization' bill offers a major endorsement for NASA's revamped Artemis plans. Seriously, this is a really great legislation overall. No idea how Isaacman got this done so quickly, but he delivered. https://t.co/g7MeTnqlSm
ADB Safegate Sells Terminal Business
Belgian‑based ADB Safegate announced the sale of its Terminal business, sharpening its focus on airside operations. The company will concentrate on next‑generation airfield lighting, intelligent power solutions, and digital platforms, while expanding R&D through its Safegate Labs initiative. Upgrades to...
NASA Launch Procurement Cap Removed From Reauthorization Bill
The proposed language to cap NASA's launch procurement at 50 percent from any one company has been dropped from the final NASA reauthorization bill. I wrote about this issue on Monday: https://t.co/x4jDOwadVr
PLD Space Secures $209M, Targets 2024 Guiana Launch
Launcher startup @PLD_Space, fresh from its $209M equity round led by @ME_JP_official and including Spanish govt, on the road to planned inaugural flight this yr from @esa @CNES Guiana Space Center. Transport vessel already booked. @defis_eu.https://t.co/rpPd1GDsBX https://t.co/n23Zg1E14q
India Signs $238M Deal with Russia for Shipborne Missiles
India’s Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Russia’s Rosoboronexport on March 3 to purchase ship‑borne vertical‑launch surface‑to‑air missiles for the Navy’s Shtil‑1 system. The $238 million (2,182 crore rupees) deal will provide 9M317ME missiles for four Project 11356 frigates, including the already‑operational F70 Tushil...
Israel's Missiles Rely on Man‑in‑the‑loop Control
More man-in-the-loop control Israeli air-to-ground weaponry video. Likely a Delilah cruise missile or Spice 2000. More here on Israel's love of MITL and Delilah etc: https://t.co/Vw7fuL1ANe
Space Internet Duopoly Sparks Global Connectivity Abundance
We're about to see a duopoly in space internet: Starlink vs Amazon's LEO constellation. We also have competitors in China and elsewhere. This drives Abundance.
Starlink Takes Center Stage at DC Summit
"Today, the star [in DC] is Starlink," says Alpine Group's Rhod Shaw at the ACA Connects Summit. #Summit2026
Senate Commerce Committee Passes NASA Authorization with Unreviewed Amendments
Senate Commerce Committee favorably reported the NASA authorization act on a voice vote. Lots of amendments included in it, which were not discussed during the brief markup.
Space Data Centers: Foundation for Mars, Colonies, Dyson Swarms
Data centers in space are the stepping stone to everything. Mars, O'Neill colonies, Dyson swarms. It all starts with compute in orbit.
Unlimited Precision Bombs Arrive with New Bombers and Fighters
"We are just getting started...more bombers and more fighters are arriving just today.. we will be using 500 lbs, 1000 lbs, 2000 lbs gps and laser guided precision gravity bombs of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile."
12 Launches Aim for 45 Satellites by Year‑end
Will the schedule stick this time? @AST_SpaceMobile forecasts 12 launches between March and Dec, all but the first carrying multiple BlueBird Block 2 sats. Goal: at least 45 in orbit by year's end. Commercial service would start in in H2....
Russian Sources Say Own Mi‑8AMTSh Downed by Friendly Fire
Several Russian Telegram and media sources say that a Russian Mi-8AMTSh helicopter was shot down last night by Russian air defenses.
Ukrainian UAVs Destroy Russian S‑400 Launcher in Belgorod
Video from the Ukrainian National Guard Lasar’s Group of bomber UAS strikes on a Russian S-400 TEL in Belgorod oblast that was located by the 429th Achilles Brigade. https://t.co/JQeQ980VPP https://t.co/X5MSQYsK1D