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
Glass Or No Glass? How The DC-10 & McDonnell Douglas MD-11’s Cockpits Are Different
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and MD-11 share an iconic tri‑jet silhouette, but their flight decks diverge dramatically. The older DC-10 retains a traditional analog cockpit with mechanical gauges, while the MD-11 introduced a glass cockpit featuring digital displays and integrated flight‑management systems. This shift reflects broader industry movement toward electronic flight decks. The article highlights how these design choices affect pilot interaction, maintenance, and airline economics.
NASA Initiates New Program to Grab Talent From the Private Sector
NASA has launched the NASA Force program, in partnership with the Office of Personnel Management, to recruit high‑impact technical talent from the private sector for two‑year federal assignments. The initiative mirrors OPM’s Tech Force effort and offers participants a pathway...
Quantum Navigation: The Magnetic Secret for Precisely Determining Aircraft Location
Airbus is actively testing quantum navigation, known as MagNav, which leverages the Earth’s magnetic field and quantum sensors to pinpoint aircraft location. The approach matches real‑time magnetic readings against a pre‑built magnetic anomaly map, offering centimeter‑level accuracy without satellite reliance....
Nvidia Hiring for Orbital Data Center System Architect, as Space Compute Market Grows
Nvidia announced a senior hire for an orbital data‑center system architect, offering a base salary between $224,000 and $356,500. The role will design end‑to‑end AI compute solutions that operate from the GPU chip through satellite platforms and inter‑satellite links. The...
The Iran Precedent: Operation Epic Fury and the Law of Armed Conflict in Space
Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.–Israeli strike against Iranian infrastructure, relied on coordinated space‑based uplink/downlink jamming and cyber disruption before kinetic weapons were employed. The campaign highlighted how militaries exploit a legal gray zone where non‑kinetic effects avoid the traditional...
Senate Commerce NASA Bill Revised with New Amendments
There were quite a few changes to the Senate Commerce NASA Auth bill compared to the draft that was circulating last week, plus the amendments adopted today. https://t.co/Ad2s6yclcs
Spirit Airlines Slashes International Routes As Network Shrinks Further
Spirit Airlines announced a sweeping reduction of its international network, cancelling 11 routes and trimming frequencies on 22 more beginning mid‑April 2026. The cuts focus heavily on Florida gateways, with Fort Lauderdale and Orlando losing several Caribbean and Central American...
Ukraine Dispatches Drone Warfare Experts to Middle East and Gulf States
Ukraine will send experts in drone warfare to help the Middle East and Gulf states
Senate Bill Calls for Human Mars Mission Study
The NASA authorization act approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today includes a study of a human Mars mission—sort of. https://t.co/EAOJaNPxtN
Bomb Threat on Newark Flight Triggers Temporary Ground Stop at New York LaGuardia Airport
The FAA temporarily halted all arriving flights at New York LaGuardia Airport after a bomb threat was reported on Scandinavian Airlines flight SK 907, which had just landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. Authorities quickly determined the threat was unfounded, allowing...
Thursday Morning Conversation with Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg
Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg discussed the rollout of the ViaSat-3 constellation in a Thursday Morning Conversation with Via Satellite. The second ViaSat-3 satellite is set to enter service within weeks, with a third slated for a spring launch and later...
Israeli F‑16Is Overfly Deir Ez‑Zor en Route to Iran
Looks like these F-16Is flew up and over Deir ez Zur, Syria, on the way to Iran
Key Takeaways on Iran Air War From Breaking Defense
Had a great time with the @BreakingDefense team talking about the air war against Iran. A few conversations worth your time. 🧵
Delta Air Lines Smashes Summer Flights To Europe: Largest-Ever Schedule Revealed
Delta Air Lines announced its largest‑ever summer schedule, operating an average of 95 daily nonstop flights across the North Atlantic in Q3 2026 – a 1.6% increase over its previous record. The airline will serve 28 European airports, including new seasonal...
Washington Lawmakers Eye Repeal Of Luxury Aircraft Tax
Washington state lawmakers are moving to repeal a 10% luxury aircraft tax slated for April 1, 2026, which would have applied to non‑commercial aircraft sales or leases above $500,000. Strong pushback from the aviation community, including Paine Field tenants, led the bill’s...
Air War Accelerates: Direct Strikes Target Eastern Front
This is going to be the conversion to direct strikes I have been talking about. Major acceleration of the air war. Lots untouched in the east, likely AD too.
Strikes Curb Iran's Missile Threat, Depleting Interceptor Reserves
Strikes Hobble Iranian Missile Threat As Concerns Over Interceptor Stockpile Mount There is a war of attrition ongoing between Iran's stockpiles of standoff weapons and the U.S. and its allies' supplies of interceptors. The latest, updating live: https://t.co/qjIQG0zn3Z
EDA Selects Airbus Helicopters for M2UAS Project
The European Defence Agency has chosen Airbus Helicopters, through its Survey Copter unit, to lead the Multi‑Mission Unmanned Aircraft System (M2UAS) programme. The 48‑month contract is valued at roughly €1.1 million and builds on the Capa‑X hybrid drone platform. The first...
Senate NASA Bill Boosts Funding for Chandra X‑ray Telescope
Encouraged to see the provisions in the Senate's NASA authorization bill (reported out of ctee today) supporting @chandraxray : #SaveChandra https://t.co/vEpAy3Mn9H
NASA’s Eclipse Megamovie Project Releases Full Data on 2024 Solar Eclipse
NASA’s Eclipse Megamovie project has released its full dataset from the April 8 2024 total solar eclipse. The collection comprises 52,469 photographs taken by volunteers at 143 U.S. observatories, creating the first white‑light eclipse dataset covering over 90 minutes of coronal observations....
The US Built up Its Missile Defenses—And Will Need to Do It Again
The United States, together with Israel and Gulf allies, recently demonstrated a highly effective integrated air and missile defense against a large‑scale Iranian attack, validating two decades of collaborative architecture. The operation relied on layered systems—Patriot, THAAD, and SM‑3—working in...
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...
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
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...
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
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...
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
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...
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.
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...
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.
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...