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
Europe's Answer to Starship
SpaceX’s Starship demonstrated a 33‑engine launch and a mid‑air booster catch, confirming its potential as a fully reusable super‑heavy lift vehicle. Independent analysis by Germany’s DLR, using extracted telemetry, estimates the current reusable Starship can deliver about 59 tonnes to low‑Earth orbit, while a next‑generation version could reach 115 tonnes reusable or 188 tonnes expendable. The study also proposes a European alternative, the RLV C5, which pairs a winged SpaceLiner booster with an expendable upper stage to loft over 70 tonnes. The RLV C5 relies on LH₂/LOX propulsion and mid‑air recovery, offering higher payload‑fraction efficiency than Starship’s fully reusable design.
The Aircraft Replacing The Airbus A380 On High-Capacity Routes
The Boeing 777X, particularly the 777‑9 variant, is positioned to succeed the Airbus A380 on ultra‑high‑capacity, long‑haul routes. With a passenger capacity exceeding 400, advanced GE9X engines and folding wingtips, the aircraft promises 10% better fuel efficiency and airport compatibility....
Space Station Experiment Shows Microbes Can Mine Valuable Metals In Orbit
Researchers aboard the International Space Station grew the fungus Penicillium simplicissimum with powdered meteorite and recovered measurable palladium, marking the first successful orbital biomining of a precious metal. The fungal cultures outperformed a bacterial counterpart, extracting 18 of 44 measured...
Space Data Centers Offer Sustainable, Resource‑Free Computing
Great to see @FT exploring the complexities of orbital data centres & our work w/ @Google on Suncatcher. Just a quick response here. Generally, space-based AI is a lofty goal, but it's a more sustainable long-term solution in comparison to...
Shareholder Advisory Firms Disagree on Avio Bylaw Amendments
Proxy advisers are split on Avio’s proposed bylaw changes ahead of its March 3 extraordinary meeting. Glass Lewis recommends shareholders approve a board size reduction to nine directors, giving the controlling shareholder seven seats, while ISS advises voting against the amendments....
Space Force Opens Secretive Space Tracking to Commercial Firms
The U.S. Space Force is increasingly relying on commercial data and artificial intelligence to track foreign satellites and assess threats to American spacecraft. The effort is coordinated through the Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications and Processing (SDA TAP) Lab, which runs...
Press Release: EASA Warns Operators to Avoid Middle East Airspace
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) warning operators to avoid the entire airspace of the Middle East and Persian Gulf at all altitudes, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The...
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Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Mar 01 ’26 Business Report]
The Defense & Aerospace Report podcast highlighted Wall Street’s worst day of 2026, driven by AI‑related worries and disappointing U.S. job numbers. A joint Israel‑U.S. strike on Iran sparked a broad regional retaliation, raising concerns over depleted U.S. weapons stocks...
Mystery Pipes on Ship 39 Likely Heat Exchanger
I'm still scratching my head over these pipes. They're not part of the stand. Definitely a part of Ship 39. I've heard all sorts of theories. A new Flap drive. Chill lines. Vent lines. But none of it really fits, especially...
SpaceX Launches 25 More Starlink Satellites
SpaceX successfully lofted 25 additional Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking another milestone for its broadband constellation. The Falcon 9’s first stage completed its 20th flight and returned to a drone ship in the Pacific. With 26 launches so...
Curiosity Mars Rover: Unnatural Pattern Investigation
NASA’s Curiosity rover’s ChemCam system autonomously flagged a patch of tiny, evenly spaced parallel lines on a Martian boxwork outcrop. The pattern, described as “unnatural,” prompted the rover to target the feature for high‑resolution imaging and laser spectroscopy. Researchers are...
New ESA Contract Targets Small, Fast-Moving Space Junk Beyond Ground Radar Reach
The European Space Agency has signed a data‑procurement contract with Munich‑based Vyoma to receive space‑based observations of small, fast‑moving debris. Vyoma’s Flamingo‑1 satellite, orbiting at 510 km, will deliver bulk traffic data that ESA will use to validate and enhance its...
March 1, 1966: Venera 3 Crashes Into Venus
On March 1 1966 the Soviet probe Venera 3 slammed into Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to reach another planet’s surface. The mission followed a series of earlier Venera attempts, many of which failed to leave Earth orbit or transmit data. Weighing roughly...
U.S. Air Force Prepares Long-Term Support for U-2 Missions
The U.S. Air Force has issued a Request for Information to identify contractors capable of sustaining the life‑support systems of its U‑2 high‑altitude reconnaissance aircraft. The RFI, released on February 26, 2026, targets depot‑level repair, engineering, and rapid spare‑parts support for pilot...
Turn of Fortunes As Thai Airways Posts Record 30.9 Bln Baht Profit For 2025
Thai Airways reported a record FY2025 net profit of 30.9 billion baht, reversing a 26.9 billion‑baht loss from the prior year. Revenue rose 1.3% to 190 billion baht, edging past pre‑pandemic levels. The carrier plans to expand its fleet to about 100 aircraft...
U.S. Air Force Selects KIHOMAC for AN/FPS-117 Radar Support
The U.S. Air Force awarded KIHOMAC Inc. a $32.4 million, five‑year indefinite‑delivery/indefinite‑quantity contract to provide contractor logistics support for the AN/FPS‑117 long‑range radar under the Atmospheric Early Warning System program. The agreement, issued by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center,...
Russians Seek to Modernise the Remainder of Indian Sukhois
Russia has proposed a parallel upgrade package for the Indian Su‑30MKI fleet that lies outside the domestic Super Sukhoi programme. The offer includes installing the Russian AL‑41F1S engine, a new radar and other subsystems, while retaining integration with Indian weapons...
Chang'e-6 Farside Samples Reshape Lunar Impact History
Scientists using Chang’e-6 far-side samples have shown that lunar impact fluxes are statistically identical on the near and far hemispheres, validating a global cratering chronology. Radiometric ages of 2.8 Ga basalt and 4.247 Ga norite, combined with local crater densities, fit within...
UAE Extends Mars Probe Mission Until 2028
The United Arab Emirates announced a three‑year extension of its Hope Mars probe, keeping the mission active until 2028. The orbiter has already transmitted ten terabits of atmospheric data, far surpassing its original one‑terabit target, and has also studied Deimos...
UK Space Firm Skyrora Explores Buying Assets of Struggling Rival Orbex
Skyrora, a Glasgow‑based small‑satellite launch provider, announced a preliminary interest in acquiring select Orbex assets, including the Sutherland Spaceport, for up to £10 million. Orbex, the Inverness‑based micro‑launcher developer, entered administration after unsuccessful fundraising and merger attempts. The potential deal could...
Rebecca Evernden Takes Helm Of New UK Space Agency Ahead Of April Launch
Rebecca Evernden has been appointed Director of the newly restructured UK Space Agency, which will merge into the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in April. A decade‑long space policy specialist, she previously led legislation for vertical launches, helped...
Passengers On American Airlines Flight From Philadelphia Experience One of the World’s Longest Ever ‘Flights to Nowhere’
American Airlines flight AA-120 from Philadelphia to Doha was forced to turn back after seven hours when Gulf airspace closed amid the Israel‑Iran escalation. The Boeing 787‑9 spent a total of 16 hours in the air, becoming one of the...
Batik Air Cancels Dubai Flight Amid Middle East Airspace Closure
Batik Air Malaysia has cancelled today’s flight to Dubai from KL due to the closure of airspace in the Middle East. The airline said in a statement that it continues to monitor the situation in the region. Passengers travelling on...
Loganair Opens Winter 2026/27 Schedule with Fares From £54 One-Way
Loganair has released its 2026/27 winter schedule, offering fares as low as £54 one‑way and selling seats through March 2027. The carrier highlights early‑bird discounts, a 21 kg standard baggage allowance, and its tenth base in Southampton, which adds routes to...
Retired U.S. General Slams U.S. Delay in Fighter Transfers to Ukraine
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula criticized Washington for postponing the transfer of advanced fighter aircraft to Ukraine, saying Russian rhetoric deterred both Biden and Trump administrations. He argued that early delivery of platforms such as F‑35s, F‑22s...
The RF-4C Crew Chief Who Stole Parts From an F-4 to Get His Aircraft Airborne After It Developed a Fuel...
The RF‑4C tactical reconnaissance aircraft entered service in 1964, with 499 units built for the USAF. During the 1965 deployment to Vietnam, crew chief SSgt Edgar M. Mays faced a fuel‑system failure that would have grounded the aircraft for weeks....
NASA F-15 Completes First Flight of Laminar Flow Scaled Wing Design
NASA successfully completed the first flight of its 40‑inch Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) wing model mounted on an F‑15B research jet at Armstrong Flight Research Center. The 75‑minute sortie demonstrated safe maneuverability with the wing attached and captured...
CAS Space to Launch Kinetica-2 in Late March Carrying Prototype Cargo Spacecraft
Chinese commercial launch provider CAS Space is set to fly its reusable Kinetica‑2 rocket in late March from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, carrying a prototype of the Qingzhou‑1 cargo spacecraft. The 53‑metre, three‑stage vehicle uses three YF‑102 kerosene‑LOX engines per...
Here’s How Much Longer The Airbus A350-1000 Is Compared To The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
The Airbus A350‑1000 measures 242 ft 1 in, about 18 ft longer than Boeing’s 787‑10, which is 224 ft 0 in. It also offers a 9,000 nm range versus the 787‑10’s 6,330 nm, targeting high‑capacity long‑haul routes. Airbus has secured 367 firm orders for the A350‑1000, just ten more...
Qatar Airways Halts Flights Until Airspace Reopens
Qatar Airways said its flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of the Qatari airspace. The airline added that it will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of the country’s airspace.
New PrSM Missile Extends US Strike Reach in Iran
America’s New PrSM Ballistic Missile Just Made Its Combat Debut In Iran Strikes PrSM can fly hundreds of miles further than its predecessor ATACMS, allowing for a far broader set of targets in Iran to be held at risk. https://t.co/IPxRrH0UQE
Avelo Airlines Extends Flights Through Fall 2026
Avelo Airlines announced it will keep its flight schedule active through mid‑November 2026, allowing bookings to more than 30 popular U.S. and Caribbean destinations. One‑way fares start at $42 and children 14 and under travel free with an adult. The carrier...
NMH Approval Still Unclear as Deadline Passes
So - conscious that things have been a bit hectic elsewhere these past 48 hrs - but did #NMH actually get signed off? Any official announcement given deadline was today?
B‑2 Bombers Target Iran’s Underground Missile Caves
B-2 Spirits Join Iran Air War, Pummel Underground Missile Caves The arrival of the B-2s marks a change in the air campaign and will put certain target sets at greater risk as the operation expands. https://t.co/K24rBVFjmR
The Recipe for Innovation? An Alliance Between Art and Science.
Julio M. Ottino argues that true innovation emerges when art and science intersect, citing origami‑inspired NASA hardware as a modern example. He frames creativity as "cloud" thinking and execution as "clock" thinking, urging leaders to bridge these modes. Ottino offers...
AI Becomes Next Multi‑Domain Weapon System
Would probably add AI to the list of new weapon systems - particularly for coordinating/planning highly complex multi-domain ops, VUL windows, EW, tanker tracks, cyber, space ISR etc to achieve synchronised ToT & then rapidly generating a new frag order....
Elon Musk’s Moon Catapult: A Vision with a Physical Catch
Elon Musk unveiled a lunar base concept that doubles as a massive satellite factory, powered by solar energy and using an electromagnetic catapult to launch payloads. The plan targets 1,000 terawatts of computing power in space, leveraging the Moon’s low...
How The F-35 Stacks Up Against The Eurofighter Typhoon In 2026
In 2026 the United Kingdom and Italy are the only NATO members operating both the Lockheed Martin F‑35 Lightning II and the Eurofighter Typhoon side by side. The F‑35 provides stealth, sensor fusion and networked warfare for contested environments, while the Typhoon...
Live Coverage: SpaceX to Launch 25 Starlink Satellites From the West Coast
SpaceX will lift off a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:10 a.m. PST on March 1, 2026, delivering 25 Starlink V2 Mini satellites for its global broadband network. The mission, designated Starlink 17‑23, uses booster B1082, which is on its 20th flight after...
The World's Weirdest Rotary Engine Is A 118-Year-Old French Spinner That Leaks Castor Oil Everywhere
The Gnome Omega, an 8‑liter seven‑cylinder rotary engine introduced in 1908, powered many World War I aircraft. Unlike later Wankel rotaries, the Gnome spun its cylinders and crankcase around a fixed crankshaft, delivering about 50 hp at 1,200 rpm. Its simple two‑state ignition,...
Third Attempt at Kairos Tonight— Hoping for Better Results
Third try for Kairos tonight. Let's see if it goes any better than the last two times...
Airlines Battle Over Slot Allocation at Bogota’s Airport
Bogotá’s El Dorado airport handled a record 45.8 million passengers in 2025, prompting Colombia’s Aerocivil to propose a slot‑reallocation plan aimed at reducing Avianca’s dominance and opening capacity to new entrants. The draft reform, framed as a democratization of a public...
ANA VS JAL: Who Actually Dominates The Japan-US Market In 2026?
All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) dominate Japan‑US transpacific traffic, but their route structures differ. In March 2026 ANA scheduled 465 one‑way flights from Tokyo, offering about 118,000 seats, while JAL operated 545 flights from four Japanese airports...
Defense Sector Analysts Highlight Three Satellite Stocks Positioned for FY2027 Budget Growth
Citi Research has identified L3Harris Technologies, Iridium Communications, and Lockheed Martin as the top satellite stocks poised to benefit from a proposed U.S. defense budget increase to $1.5 trillion for FY2027, emphasizing the Pentagon’s “Golden Dome” space‑based defense architecture. L3Harris recently...
Germany Commits €35 Billion to LEO Resilience and Non-Kinetic Deterrence
Germany announced a €35 billion investment through 2030 to build sovereign military space capabilities, marking a shift from purely defensive postures toward contested orbital operations. The plan includes the SATCOM Stage 4 architecture, a proliferated low‑Earth‑orbit constellation of more than 100 satellites...
Drone Strike Cripples Dubai Airport, Recovery Will Take Long
Drone hit at Dubai Airport... The destruction and pure chaos everywhere... Dubai airport shutdown, thousands stranded, flights diverted all over. This ain't fixing in a few days...this recovery is gonna drag on for a long time. Brutal
US Deploys Iranian‑Style Kamikaze Drones in Combat
U.S. Military Has Used Long-Range Kamikaze Drones In Combat For The First Time America's clone of Iran's Shahed-136 had been used against Iran in an ironic vignette of modern drone warfare. https://t.co/TUY72CkNm5
Airspace Closures Across Middle East Cause Flight Cancellations After Strikes on Iran
Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, airspace across the Middle East was shut down, prompting widespread commercial flight cancellations. Major hubs—including Dubai International, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International, and Doha’s Hamad International—suspended operations until further notice. Gulf carriers and global...
Inside Starcloud and SpaceX’s Orbital Data Centers FCC Filings
Starcloud and SpaceX have each submitted FCC applications to launch orbital data centers, outlining satellite constellations, orbital parameters, communication architectures, and disposal strategies. The filings reveal Starcloud’s plan for a 120‑satellite low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) network and SpaceX’s proposal for a 300‑satellite...
First Look: Black Tomahawk Missile Deployed in Iran Strikes
Black Tomahawk Cruise Missile Seen For The First Time In Strikes On Iran We may have gotten our first look at the Maritime Strike Tomahawk, and the missile appears to share the same coating as another Navy anti-ship weapon. https://t.co/4emKSQqRkJ