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
Gilat Wins Big Military Contracts, Expands India Footprint
Gilat Satellite Networks reported a strong Q1 2026, highlighted by a $23 million follow‑on contract with the U.S. Army and a new electronically steered antenna award for a European defense customer. The company also sealed a partnership with India’s Nelco Limited to deploy its SkyEdge IV multi‑orbit platform for high‑throughput satellite services. These wins reinforce Gilat’s multi‑orbit ground‑segment strategy that serves both defense MILSATCOM and commercial broadband markets. Management reaffirmed full‑year 2026 revenue guidance as it prepares further 5G NTN field trials.
To Replace Lost MQ-9s, USAF Eyes Next-Gen Reaper
The U.S. Air Force reported losing roughly two dozen MQ‑9A Reaper drones during the early phase of Operation Epic Fury against Iran. With the MQ‑9A production line shut down in 2025, the service is scrambling for short‑term replacements, eyeing the...
Eutelsat Shows Strong Growth in LEO Services and Mobility in Q3
Eutelsat reported third‑quarter revenue of 293 million euros ($343 million), a 2.3% decline on a reported basis but a 3% rise on a like‑for‑like basis. LEO‑driven revenue surged 65% year‑over‑year, propelling Mobile Connectivity up 27% to €45 million ($53 million). The company announced a...
U.S. Short-Haul Flights Drop 11% as Longer Routes Gain, OAG Data Shows
OAG data released this week shows U.S. domestic flights under 250 nautical miles fell 11% between 2016 and 2026, the steepest drop among all route lengths. At the same time, flights over 500 miles rose, a shift airlines attribute to...
SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage Set to Strike Moon in August, Raising Lunar Debris Concerns
A discarded 45‑foot Falcon 9 upper‑stage booster launched in January 2025 is expected to slam into the Moon’s western edge on Aug. 5 at roughly 5,400 mph. The predicted impact has reignited discussions about lunar debris mitigation and the sustainability of future...
Rise Goes to Washington
NASA’s Artemis II crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen—completed a ten‑day lunar flyby in April 2026 and then traveled to Washington, D.C. on May 12 to meet congressional staff on the Capitol’s dais. The team displayed “Rise,” a...
SpaceX Prepares to Launch Next-Generation Starship, the Tallest and Most Powerful Rocket Ever Built
SpaceX announced the maiden flight of Starship V3, the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built, slated for May 19. The 407‑foot vehicle features new Raptor 3 engines, an upgraded Super Heavy booster, and a redesigned launch pad. The sub‑orbital test...
DOD Builds Framework for Faster Development and Deployment of Cruise Missiles
The Defense Department signed framework agreements with Anduril, CoAspire, Leidos and Zone 5 to develop low‑cost, containerized cruise missiles, with testing slated for spring 2026 and production aimed for 2027. A separate contract with Castelion will validate the Blackbeard missile, followed...
Artemis II Crew Meets with Prime Minister Carney Following Historic Mission
After a historic 10‑day lunar flyby, NASA’s Artemis II crew landed in Ottawa for a first‑ever official visit to Canada’s capital. Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the astronauts, highlighted the nation’s keen public interest, and praised CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons for her CAPCOM...
Laser Links Carry Data, Radio Secures Safety for Artemis2
Laser data links handled all the HD video and science data during NASA's recent #Artemis2 mission. This freed radio to be devoted to safety-critical telemetry connections. The two systems' division of labor is the blueprint for future deep-space missions. https://spectrum.ieee.org/free-space-optical-communication-artemis?share_id=9491502
Delaying Artemis III May Enable More Moon‑Ready Vehicle
NASA wants to fly Artemis III next year. But the longer NASA waits to fly Artemis III, the better chance it will have to fly with a higher-fidelity vehicle—that is, one closer to landing on the Moon than being a...
USAF Apologizes After F-35 Triggers Sonic Boom Over England
The U.S. Air Force apologized after an F‑35A from RAF Lakenheath unintentionally broke the sound barrier, creating a sonic boom over eastern England during a routine training maneuver. Residents in Norfolk and Suffolk reported loud, explosive‑like bangs that rattled homes,...
Poland Says It Intercepts Russian Aircraft over Baltic Sea
Poland's air force intercepted a Russian Il‑20 reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea, labeling it a provocation. The aircraft flew without a filed flight plan and with transponders turned off, but did not breach Polish airspace. Defence...
US Space Command, Allies Crafting Ops Plan for Orbital Warfare
U.S. Space Command and a coalition of seven allies—including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and New Zealand—are drafting a joint concept of operations to defend orbital assets, with a target completion date by the end of 2024. The...
Inside Canada’s Most Ambitious Space Infrastructure Company with Mina Mitry of Kepler Communications
In this episode, Matt Cohen sits down with Mina Mitri, CEO and co‑founder of Kepler Communications, to discuss the company’s evolution from a university‑born startup with $75,000 in prize money to the operator of the world’s first operational optical data‑relay...
Golden Dome's Key Questions to Determine Its Success
The Pentagon’s Golden Dome program aims to create an integrated missile‑defense architecture that blends ground‑based radars, space‑based sensors and data‑routing software to detect and intercept threats before launch or in flight. The Congressional Budget Office now estimates the system will...
Leidos Lands $2.7B Dark Eagle Production Contract
Leidos secured a $2.7 billion full‑production contract from the Defense Department for the Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon, moving the program from an other‑transaction authority to a traditional FAR‑based award. The deal unifies the Thermal Protection Shield and Common Hypersonic Glide Body...
JetA Shortage – Are We Already Too Late?
A jet‑fuel shortage is looming as the Strait of Hormuz blockade limits Jet A deliveries from Gulf refineries. Europe, Asia and Africa have only two to three weeks of reserves, prompting airlines like Lufthansa to cancel thousands of flights. The United...
The China Space Problem: What Congress Knows, What Americans Don't, and What Happens If We Lose
In this episode, hosts Bill Wolf and Dylan "BRIC" Cox interview Randy Shriver and Mike Hyken, chair and vice‑chair of the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission, about China’s rapidly expanding space capabilities and the bipartisan consensus on addressing the...
Boeing Plans $1B Investment in Kansas Facilities
Boeing announced a $1 billion investment in its Wichita, Kansas facilities over the next three years to upgrade factories, expand training and boost manufacturing capacity. The spend follows the $8.3 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems and is part of a broader $4 billion...
U.S. Air Force’s First Chief Modernization Officer Talks CCAs, Mass Production
Lt. Gen. Christopher Niemi was confirmed as the Air Force’s first chief modernization officer, a role that consolidates modernization efforts across the service. He told the Senate Armed Services Committee he is "bullish" on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program,...
US Coast Guard Rescues 10 Passengers After Beechcraft Crash Off Florida
The US Coast Guard located and rescued ten occupants of a Beechcraft 300 King that went down off Fort Pierce, Florida, on May 12, 2026. Three survivors sustained injuries. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority of the Bahamas opened a probe...
Sidus Space Schedules Q1 2026 Earnings Call, Promises 2026 Launch Roadmap
Sidus Space announced that its first‑quarter 2026 financial results conference call will take place on May 14 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The company said the call will detail its 2026 launch roadmap, signaling its next phase of growth in the small‑sat...
SpaceX Targets May 19 for First Starship V3 Launch
"SpaceX announced May 12 that it is planning a launch of the first Starship version 3 vehicle as soon as May 19 from its Starbase facility in South Texas. Liftoff is planned for 6:30 p.m. Eastern." https://t.co/ms7b4TA9iP via @SpaceNews_Inc
Boeing Reports Strong April With 57 Widebody Orders
Boeing announced on May 12 that it received 109 orders in April, including 57 widebody jets. The widebody commitments consist of 28 777X, 29 787 Dreamliner, and 52 737 MAX deliveries. The orders were disclosed in the company’s monthly orders...
Starship V3 and Launch Pad 2 Set for Debut Mission May 19
SpaceX has set May 19, 2026 as the earliest date for the debut of Starship V3, its third major iteration, launching from the newly constructed Launch Pad 2 at Boca Chica. The flight will evaluate a suite of upgrades, including higher‑thrust Raptor engines, revised...
231 - What Will Define Operator Advantage in Asia's Satellite Market?
In this episode, Nathan DeRuiter of NovaSpace breaks down the fragmented satellite capacity market across Asian nations, highlighting how new GEO launches and LEO constellations—especially Starlink and emerging Chinese systems—are reshaping supply, pricing power, and competitive dynamics. He explains how...
NASA’s Planet-Hunting TESS Reveals Dazzling Night Sky
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has released an all‑sky mosaic compiled from 96 observation sectors spanning April 2018 to September 2025. The image marks 679 confirmed exoplanets and 5,165 candidate worlds, filling gaps left by earlier surveys. TESS’s four‑camera system continuously...
Leidos Wins $2.7bn US Army Hypersonic Weapons Order
Leidos secured a $2.7 bn contract from the U.S. Army to shift its hypersonic weapons work from prototype to production. The award combines the Thermal Protection Shield and Common Hypersonic Glide Body programs into a single effort, streamlining development and supply‑chain...
Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Deepens, Strikes 1,500 Km Inside Russia, Attacks Surge 400%
Ukraine’s unmanned aerial attacks have jumped 400% in medium‑range strikes, now reaching targets up to 1,500 km inside Russian territory. The escalation forces Moscow to rethink air‑defence postures and signals a new phase in the aerospace war between Kyiv and Moscow.
SpaceX Starship V3 Completes Rehearsal Ahead of Possible May 19 Test Flight
SpaceX announced that its 124‑meter Starship V3 megarocket finished a full launch‑rehearsal on Monday, topping up more than 5,000 metric tons of propellant. The milestone clears the path for the vehicle’s 12th flight, which could launch as early as May 19, a...
Exclusive: LEAP Launches Its First Rocket
LEAP, a Colorado‑based startup, completed the inaugural flight of its Bullfrog suborbital vehicle, reaching roughly 40 km altitude from Mojave’s Friends of Amateur Rocketry pad. The test validated a dual‑mode rocket engine, low‑cost proprietary fuel tanks and a rapid, containerized launch...
XPONENTIAL 2026: AIRO Unveils Dual-Use Autonomous VTOL
AIRO Group, together with Jaunt Air Mobility, unveiled a full‑scale autonomous VTOL at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026. The aircraft offers two configurations – the JC250 cargo version for middle‑mile logistics and the JX250 ISR version for defense surveillance. It features hybrid‑electric...
French Startup Develops Pneumatic-Wing Cargo Drone
French aerospace startup Celeste Ecoflyers has completed ground avionics activation and taxi trials of its 8‑meter dAS10 pneumatic‑wing cargo drone at Le Havre airport. The aircraft replaces a traditional rigid wing with a pressurised textile envelope, delivering very low wing...
Next-Generation Tactical UAS: Advancing European Defence Capabilities
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) unveiled Gambit 6, a next‑generation modular UCAV designed for air‑to‑ground, electronic warfare and SEAD missions, complementing the MQ‑9B fleet already operating in Europe. The Gambit series shares roughly 70% of its components, lowering unit costs and...
Russia Tests RS‑28 Sarmat ‘Satan II’ ICBM, Plans Combat Deployment by Year‑End
President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia’s RS‑28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile – known in the West as “Satan II” – completed a successful test launch and will enter combat duty by the end of 2026. The 208‑ton, 35‑metre missile can carry...
A Plan to Make Drugs in Orbit Is Going Commercial
Varda Space Industries has secured United Therapeutics as its first commercial partner to test drug manufacturing in orbit. The collaboration will send United's pulmonary‑arterial hypertension medicines to microgravity to grow novel crystal forms that could improve stability and efficacy. Varda...
Exobiosphere, Voyager Partner on ISS Mission
Exobiosphere has signed a contract with Voyager Technologies Europe to launch its Orbital High‑Throughput Screening Device on the International Space Station. The automated mini‑lab fits into standard mid‑deck lockers, keeps organ cells alive and delivers therapeutics without astronaut intervention, promising...
B-1B Rejoins Fleet Ahead of Schedule After Massive Structural Repair
A B‑1B Lancer received a 33‑foot forward‑intermediate fuselage replacement at Wichita State University’s NIAR, completing the BackBONE Project three‑and‑a‑half months ahead of the original 12‑month schedule. The accelerated repair, finished on May 11, 2026, leveraged a high‑fidelity digital twin and laser‑guided...
Ireland’s Daa to Be Key Partner for New Vietnamese Airport
Ireland’s airport operator daa, through its international arm, has been named strategic and operational partner for the under‑construction Gia Binh International Airport near Hanoi. The partnership combines Masterise Aviation Infrastructure’s development capabilities with daa International’s 85 years of airport planning, delivery...
SES Cancels Two Satellites, Trims OPEX, Insurance Woes Persist
.@SES_Satellites cancels 2 @Thales_Alenia_S software-defined sats in post-Intelsat-purchase synergy move, reduces opex by 9% in Q1 2026, still struggles with insurers on 2-yr-old O3b mPower insurance claim. https://t.co/77aSRgX07W https://t.co/qd6Iy2tz3O
Boeing 737 MAX & Beyond: The Safety Scandals That Forced Aviation To Change
The Boeing 737 MAX was grounded for 20 months after two fatal crashes revealed a hidden MCAS software flaw. Investigations showed Boeing concealed the system from regulators, leading to worldwide scrutiny and stricter FAA oversight. Subsequent incidents, including a 2024 door‑plug...
Study Identifies Geysers the JUICE Mission Could Explore on Ganymede
An international team led by Dr. Anezina Solomonidou has identified four likely cryovolcanic vents—paterae—on Jupiter’s moon Ganymede using reprocessed Galileo NIMS data. These sites are slated as priority targets for ESA’s JUICE spacecraft, which will employ its MAJIS spectrometer and...
Spirit Airlines' Collapse Sends Shockwaves Through U.S. Aviation and Jet‑Fuel Markets
Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations on May 2, wiping out 17,000 jobs and stranding thousands of passengers. The fallout coincides with a global jet‑fuel crunch driven by the Iran war, pressuring airlines already grappling with soaring fuel...
Star Catcher Raises $65 Million to Build Orbital Power‑Grid Satellite Network
Star Catcher Industries announced a $65 million Series A round led by B Capital, with participation from Shield Capital and Cerberus Ventures. The funding will fund in‑space demonstrations of its solar‑beaming technology and scale a pipeline of $3 billion in prospective contracts.
Man Killed By Frontier Jet On Denver Runway Had 20 Prior Arrests, Including Attempted Murder
A Frontier Airlines jet struck a man who had illegally crossed Denver International Airport's runway on Friday night, igniting an engine fire and prompting an emergency evacuation. The passenger aircraft aborted its takeoff, and all occupants were safely removed. Authorities...
Details On The Rock That Got Stuck To The NASA Curiosity Rover Drill
NASA's Curiosity rover experienced a drill jam on 25 April 2026 when a rock dubbed “Atacama” adhered to the drill bit. Engineers worked remotely to free the rock, which finally detached on 1 May and fractured on impact. Mast‑camera images captured on...
How the U.S. Is Vulnerable to Space Attack in a China Conflict Scenario
Former United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno warns that a China‑China conflict could begin with a coordinated space and undersea‑cable disruption, leaving U.S. forces "blind." The scenario describes loss of communications over Taiwan and the Strait of Malacca, degraded missile‑warning...
May 12, 2026 Quick Space Links
The post bundles several space‑related updates: a Russian Angara rocket official was sentenced in absentia to seven years for fraud, Viasat unveiled a striking image of its ViaSat‑3 F2 satellite with its large reflector fully deployed, and the 2009 Atlantis launch...
U.S. Air Force T-38C Trainer Crashes in Alabama, Pilots Safe
A U.S. Air Force T‑38C Talon jet trainer from Columbus Air Force Base crashed in rural Lamar County, Alabama, on May 12, 2026. Both pilots successfully ejected and were recovered unharmed. The cause of the crash remains unknown and will...