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
UK Throwing Good Money After Bad in Watchkeeper Drone Retention
The UK has extended the service of its Watchkeeper Mk 1 UAV fleet by two years, costing roughly £95.7 million. The eight‑aircraft loss rate and a £1.35 billion run‑up have left the programme plagued by reliability concerns. Maintaining the drones will consume about 73 % of the £156 million budget earmarked for their replacement under Project Corvus. The extension pushes the retirement date to March 2027 while a new system is slated for delivery by 2030.
An-225 Remains Wrecked; Rebuild Hopes Remain Uncertain
Latest images of the An-225 at Hostomel.... the world’s largest plane has been a burned out wreck since the 2022 invasion. No restoration, just remains. Ukraine still talks about building a new one, but it’s not happening yet. The original is...
China Set for Its First One-Year Human Spaceflight Mission, Confirms Pakistani Astronaut Flight
China announced its first one‑year human spaceflight mission aboard the Tiangong space station, selecting an astronaut from the Shenzhou‑23 crew to remain in orbit for twelve months. The Shenzhou‑23 launch is slated for April‑May 2026, following an early delivery of...
Utah Becomes Tenth Candidate State for the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program
Utah has filed a proposal to join the FAA’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program, aligning with Arizona, Idaho, Oregon and Oklahoma. The state’s coalition partners include industry leaders Lockheed Martin, Joby Aviation and BETA Technologies to...
Using AI to Train Space Warfighters
In this episode, Tom Patton talks with Dr. Belinda Merchan, Chief Scientist at Slingshot Aerospace, about how AI is transforming space warfare training. Traditional training relied on scripted scenarios, but Slingshot’s agentic AI uses physics‑based models and proprietary tracking data...
We’re About to Turn Night Into Day. Is that a Good Idea?
The FCC is reviewing proposals to launch orbital mirrors that would reflect sunlight onto cities, effectively turning night into day, while SpaceX is eyeing a constellation of up to a million satellites to serve as floating data centers. Proponents claim...
Russia's Invasion Wrecked the Iconic An-225, Now a Memorial
FYI, these are the horrible fatal wounds inflicted by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine on the world’s greatest cargo aircraft, the Antonov An-225 Mriya. This is what we saw when we returned to the Hostomel airfield after the Russians were defeated...
McLaren Racing Announces Etihad Airways as an Official Partner
McLaren Racing announced Etihad Airways as an Official Partner for its Formula 1 and United Autosports WEC Hypercar programmes starting in the 2026 season. The deal links the UAE’s national carrier with McLaren’s high‑performance racing platforms, emphasizing shared values of innovation...
Aviation Training and Operations Readiness Lead
Wing, Alphabet’s drone‑delivery arm, is hiring a remote Aviation Training & Operations Readiness Lead to steer its rapidly expanding flight‑operations program. The role will oversee training, operational evaluations, and the transition to Part 108‑compliant, highly automated deliveries across two continents. Reporting...
Application Spotlight: Consolidated Helicopter Intake Duct Yields 80% Cost Saving
An aerospace OEM producing light‑helicopters replaced its traditional machined intake duct with a 3D‑printed carbon‑PEEK component. The additive‑manufactured duct consolidated multiple parts, cutting material and tooling costs by roughly 80% while also reducing weight and lead time. Performance testing confirmed...
Russians Are Starting to Loudly Complain About Ukrainian Drone Strikes
Russian media are publicly acknowledging a sharp rise in Ukrainian drone attacks, citing the interception of 151 UAVs in a single night on 17 February 2026. The raids have forced temporary shutdowns at twelve Russian airports and caused civilian disruptions, including fires...
Hackers Tricked by Fake Satellite in Groundbreaking Cybersecurity Sting
Researchers unveiled HoneySat at NDSS 2026, the first high‑interaction satellite honeypot that mimics an entire CubeSat mission, including ground‑segment software and orbital dynamics. In three public deployments, attackers issued 22 authentic flight‑software commands, attempting to access ground systems, extract telemetry,...
Space Force’s Top Guardians Share Their Stories
The Space Force held its fourth Polaris Awards ceremony at the AFA Warfare Symposium, honoring Guardians who exemplified the service’s core values of Character, Connection, Commitment, and Courage. Winners included Maj. Adriane Payn, who prevented a $300,000 loss by fixing...
ISS Aerospace & Anduril UK Partner to Integrate WASP Launched Effect Into Lattice Platform
ISS Aerospace and Anduril UK announced a partnership to embed the ISSOS WASP launched effect into Anduril’s sovereign Lattice command‑and‑control platform. The integration, completed in a single day, was validated with a flight test at ISS Aerospace’s Oxford facility. WASP...
ISAC Innovation | Ericsson Demos Drone Detection PoC at Texas
Ericsson successfully demonstrated a live proof‑of‑concept for its Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technology at its Plano, Texas headquarters, using massive‑MIMO radios to detect and track drones in real time. The trial showed that existing 5G infrastructure can be repurposed...
Defence-Tech Startup Constelli Raises $20 Mn Led by General Catalyst
Defence‑tech startup Constelli announced a $20 million Series A round led by General Catalyst, with participation from 360 One Asset Management and existing backer Pravega Ventures. The capital will fund R&D for next‑generation electronic warfare and communication payloads across drones, ground systems, naval...
The UAE Successfully Launched Its First Hybrid Rocket
The United Arab Emirates successfully launched its first domestically built hybrid sounding rocket on 13 February 2026, achieving a 3 km altitude and safe recovery. Developed by the Technology Innovation Institute, the vehicle uses a nitrous‑oxide and solid polyethylene propulsion system...
Israeli‑Indian Weapons Decimated Pakistan Proxy, Yielding Critical Data
100% agree @ShivAroor @AdityaRajKaul Israeli and Israeli-India systems were used to dominate the Pakistan Chinese proxy military during Operation Sindoor. Weapons such as IAI Harop kamikaze drone, Elbit SkyStriker loitering munition (India–Israel production), Rafael SPICE precision-guidance kits, IAI/Elbit Rampage air-to-surface missile,...
First Demo Flight Launches K2Space High-Power MEO Constellation
.@SES_Satellites: 1st demo flight for future multi-mission MEO constellation using @K2SpaceCo's big, high-power buses launches this spring. @defis_eu @esa.https://t.co/yVAGU89DCy https://t.co/sZUmRowhGb
Hitting New Heights: Turkish Airlines Aims for 1,000 Aircraft by 2036
Turkish Airlines celebrated its 500th aircraft delivery in late 2025 and unveiled an ambitious plan to double the fleet to 1,000 planes by 2036. The airline’s growth has accelerated from 100 aircraft in 2006 to 400 in 2023, reflecting a...
White House Official Vows Renewed Airline Scrutiny
White House official vows 'new interest' in airline industry after he and his wife experience flight woes https://t.co/WpgFmU0doS
Virgin Australia Grows Profits Despite Rising Cost Pressures
Virgin Australia delivers strong profit growth despite rising cost pressures as it remains disciplined about capacity https://t.co/DtndubwGs8
Video of the Week: Inside the Engine Room - Lessons, Innovation and the Trent 1000 Reset
At the CAPA Airline Leader Summit, Rolls‑Royce senior VP Luke Mallows detailed the Trent 1000 programme reset, highlighting how early durability setbacks prompted a comprehensive redesign. The overhaul emphasized new materials, rigorous testing, and tighter airline‑OEM collaboration to restore reliability. Mallows...
Starship V3 Lands Twice,
Two clean soft landings in the Indian Ocean for Starship v3 until we can expect a catch. The rule is still in place. Earliest for a ship catch: Flight 14 👍
FAA Shuts Texas Airspace After Laser Downed Government Drone
FAA closes airspace in Fort Hancock, Texas after reported use of anti-drone laser believed to have accidentally shot down a US government drone https://t.co/ACBL6Fs5jm
How To Fly American Airlines’ Best Business (and First) Class Seats Within the U.S.
In March 2026 American Airlines will operate 2,016 domestic flights equipped with lie‑flat seats across its A321T, A321XLR, 777‑300ER, 777‑200, 787‑8, 787‑9 and select Flagship Suite aircraft. The compact A321T carries 30 First‑Class and 20 Business lie‑flat seats on four coast‑to‑coast...
Roscosmos Completes Solar Array Tests, Site 31 Repairs Near Finish
Roskosmos reports completion of solar array tests in the ongoing Progress MS-33 launch campaign in Baikonur, while construction crews are finishing repairs at Site 31: https://t.co/mN4Hi2mIUG https://t.co/ih3V7RDbih
Ontario International Airport Passenger Count 3.7% Higher in January as New Year Begins on a High Note
Ontario International Airport reported a 3.7% rise in January 2026 passenger volume, reaching 492,895 travelers. International traffic surged 64% to a record 66,281, while domestic numbers slipped 1.9% to 426,614. The airport added a new daily nonstop service to Boise...
Orbital Warfare Unit Gets Live Satellite to Practice Maneuvers
Guardians in the Space Force’s orbital warfare unit, Mission Delta 9, received a live satellite launched on Feb 12 as part of the USSF‑87 mission, giving them a realistic platform for offensive and defensive space‑maneuver training. The new asset replaces earlier on‑orbit...
U.S. Space Force Pivots to Hemispheric Security with SPACEFOR-NORTH Activation
The U.S. Space Force activated U.S. Space Forces Northern (SPACEFOR‑NORTH) on Jan. 30, 2026, shifting its posture from global support to dedicated homeland defense. Headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, the component serves as the space service arm of U.S. Northern...
Space Systems Command Awards $44.9M Systems Engineering Contract to LinQuest
The Department of Defense awarded LinQuest Corp. a $44.9 million cost‑plus‑incentive‑fee modification to its existing Space Systems Command (SSC) contract, raising the program’s cumulative face value to $810.7 million. The funding, split between operations, maintenance and RDT&E, will support additional systems engineering,...
Air Force Leaders Discuss Priorities for the Air Force’s Future Force Design
Senior Air Force leaders and industry experts convened at the Air and Space Forces Association’s 2026 Warfare Symposium to outline the Air Force’s Future Force Design. The initiative reorients acquisition toward integrated lethality, survivability and persistent connectivity rather than counting...
Pilot’s Widow Sues Boeing, GE Following UPS Crash
The widow of UPS pilot Dana Justin Diamond has filed a wrongful‑death lawsuit against Boeing, General Electric and maintenance firm VT San Antonio Aerospace. The suit, lodged on Feb. 25 in Jefferson County Circuit Court, blames design, manufacturing and upkeep failures...
NASA’s First Medical Evacuation Is Here. It Won’t Be the Last.
NASA conducted its first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station in January 2026 when astronaut Mike Fincke experienced a microgravity‑related health event. The entire Crew‑11 returned early aboard a SpaceX capsule because no spare crew‑ready vehicle was available. The...
The History of Satellite Ridesharing
Satellite ridesharing has evolved from occasional piggyback flights into a multi‑billion‑dollar industry by the mid‑2020s. The adoption of the CubeSat form factor and standardized deployers allowed dozens of small satellites to share a single launch, while brokers such as Spaceflight...
Redwire Emphasizes Defense Pivot and Maturing Capabilities in 2025 Results
Redwire reported a 10.3% revenue increase in 2025, reaching $335.4 million, with fourth‑quarter sales surging 56% year‑over‑year to $108.8 million. CEO Peter Cannito said roughly two‑thirds of revenue is now moving into production, especially its unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) portfolio. The company...
SOCOM on the Hunt for ‘Acoustic Rainbow’ Tech for Silencing Drones
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has launched an SBIR solicitation for acoustic rainbow emitters (ARE) to silence tactical drones, aiming to cut acoustic signatures by at least 50%. The devices must weigh no more than 1 kg for Group 1 UAVs and...
New Video Explores Starship HLS Refuel Reduction Strategies
I just cut out 7 pages of script from my Artemis deep dive to make a full standalone run down on what SpaceX could potentially do with Starship HLS to try and reduce the number of refilling trips, including the...
EA-37B Compass Call Jams Enemy Comms, Cripples Kill Chains
This Is What The EA-37B Compass Call Electronic Attack Jet Can Actually Do The EA-37B is meant to disrupt enemy communications, playing havoc on their command and control and shattering their kill chains. Full interview with its makers: https://t.co/TeN3vqd4ot
![Southwest's Massive Expansion: 31 New Routes Launch Next Week [Map]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://static0.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/southwest-boeing-737-700-on-initial-climb.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop)
Southwest's Massive Expansion: 31 New Routes Launch Next Week [Map]
Southwest Airlines will launch 31 new routes between March 2 and 8, the most weekly additions among its peers. The rollout includes 25 domestic and six international services, five of which are brand‑new markets, marking the carrier’s first international flights from Indianapolis...
EC‑130H Compass Call: Unsung Hero of Maduro Capture
Outside of the obvious platforms, the one aircraft that likely had the most impact overall on the success of Operation Absolute Resolve that saw the capture of Maduro was the EC-130H Compass Call. It is the king 'discombobulator' that few...
User Seeks ID: Possible Starlink Antenna, Not RCS Block
Which smarty McSmarty pants out there can tell me what exactly this is. I assume Starlink antenna based on its general shape, but I want it to be a pop out RCS block cuz that’d be sick 😂 (it’s not)...
Space Data Meets Ground Troops: The Calian-ADGA Training Partnership
Calian Group and ADGA Group have signed a three‑year partnership to create advanced land‑training simulators for the Canadian Army, embedding full C5ISRT networks into synthetic battlefields. Both firms bring deep satellite communications and secure simulation expertise, ensuring virtual environments mirror...
Missed Feb 19 ISS Boost, Thanks Katya for the Heads‑up
I had missed this ISS orbit boost on Feb 19, thanks Katya for keeping an eye on these
U.S. Space Force Plans Offensive Satellite Use Against China
U.S. Space Force looking to offensive use of satellites in any future space battle with China. https://t.co/8p2HpilCCx
CRS-33 Dragon Cargo Ship Undocks, Splashdown Expected Tomorrow
Dragon cargo ship CRS-33 undocked from IDA-2 at 1705 UTC Feb 26. Splashdown off the California coast is expected around 0744 UTC Feb 27.
Senate Commerce Schedules NASA Deputy Admin Hearing March 5
Senate Commerce will hold a nomination hrg for Matt Anderson to the NASA Deputy Admin (and one other non-NASA nominee) on Thursday, March 5, 10:00 am ET. Webcast.
Pentagon Readies Kamikaze Drone Unit for Potential Trump‑ordered Iran Strike
Just in: The Pentagon’s first kamikaze drone unit is ready to participate if President Donald Trump decides to launch strikes on Iran, according to US officials and analysts. https://t.co/DOPGwxi339
Neutron Launch Delayed to Q4 2026 After Tank Test Failure
From the earnings release: “Updated the Neutron development schedule following the stage 1 tank test failure, with Neutron’s first launch now targeted for Q4 2026.”
Join Denver Open House: See Historic Jet & R&D
We're holding an XB-1 and Boom Manufacturing Open House Thursday March 5th at our Denver manufacturing HQ. Meet the team, see the jet that made history, and tour our engine R&D shop. If you'd like an invitation fill out the form👇