Today's Aerospace Pulse
Updated 3h ago
Atomic-6 launches ODC.Space marketplace for orbital data centers
Atomic-6 unveiled ODC.Space, an online marketplace that lets customers order orbital data center hardware from shared 1U units up to sovereign 42U racks. The largest rack configuration is priced at roughly $3.5million per month, with initial deliveries expected in two to three years.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Sierra Space raises $550M in private funding round
Amazon Unveils Leo Aviation Antenna, Promising Gigabit In‑Flight Connectivity
Amazon announced the Leo Aviation Antenna, a low‑profile phased‑array terminal that can deliver up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload to commercial aircraft. The hardware is slated for service in mid‑2026, positioning Amazon against SpaceX’s Starlink in the fast‑growing inflight connectivity market.
China's CASC Unveils 5‑Meter Composite Propulsion Module for Reusable Spacecraft
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) unveiled the nation’s largest integrated composite propulsion module for reusable spacecraft, a 5‑meter‑diameter structure that is over 60% composite, can bear 1,000‑tonne axial loads, and was built in a seven‑month cycle. The milestone...
SpaceX IPO Looms as Anthropic Tops OpenAI
SpaceX may be headed for a $2T public debut just as Anthropic takes the ARR crown from OpenAI. Add in lunar missions, orbital data centers, and AI that’s getting cheaper and more dangerous at the same time, and this week...
Southwest CEO: We Have a 20% Cost Edge on American, Delta, and United
Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan told investors that the carrier’s operating costs are about 20% lower than those of American, Delta and United. The advantage stems from Southwest’s single‑aircraft fleet and point‑to‑point network, which keep maintenance and scheduling expenses down....
Bolivian Cessna Disappears 30 Minutes After Takeoff
Tragic update from Bolivian skies. A private Cessna Citation Bravo (CP-3243) departed La Paz’s El Alto Airport around 8:19 local time on April 13, bound for Santa Cruz, with only two pilots on board. Roughly 30 minutes after takeoff, the crew lost...
Trump Needs A-10s to Go After Iranian Speedboats and Patrol Ships
The Trump administration has imposed a naval blockade of Iran’s ports, allowing only non‑Iranian vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz. To counter Iran’s 3,000‑4,000 missile‑armed speedboats and 133 patrol ships, officials argue the A‑10 Thunderbolt II is the most suitable...
Defence Fires First Home-Built GMLRS as Sovereign Missile Push Gathers Pace
Australia successfully test‑fired its first domestically produced Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles at the Woomera Test Range. The rockets are intended for the newly acquired High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and mark a milestone in the country’s sovereign...
ESA Opens €1 Million Call for Crew Launch Abort Demonstrator, Targeting Ariane 6 Safety
The European Space Agency has opened a €1 million (about $1.1 million) call for proposals to design a crew launch abort demonstrator, kicking off a 12‑month System Level Definition phase on 10 April. The effort focuses on modelling pad‑abort scenarios for an Ariane 6...
Government Announces Billions in Spending on Military Drones
The Australian government unveiled a decade‑long investment of at least $12 bn AUD (about $7.9 bn USD) in military drones and counter‑drone systems. The package includes $2 bn AUD (~$1.3 bn USD) in the new Integrated Investment Program and $2.2 bn AUD (~$1.45 bn USD) for...
Pentagon's Flagship Golden Dome Program Spinning Its Wheels
The Pentagon’s Golden Dome program, touted as a flagship modernization effort, has stalled more than a year after its public launch. Internal disagreements over the system’s architecture have created a coordination bottleneck, preventing meaningful progress. The initiative, intended to integrate...
Royal Navy Tests CAPSTONE Drone in Anti-Submarine Warfare Demonstration
The Royal Navy evaluated Certo Aerospace’s CAPSTONE VTOL drone in a February anti‑submarine warfare trial, demonstrating more than two hours of flight while deploying sonobuoys and feeding acoustic data to a ground station. The drone transmitted sensor information via Starlink...
Ukraine Develops New Surface-to-Air Missile
Ukraine’s president unveiled a previously unseen surface‑to‑air missile, likely the domestically developed “Koral” system. The interceptor appears to use proven propulsion, guidance and fuze components, accelerating its path from prototype to fielding. Earlier exhibition models suggested a 30‑50 km engagement envelope,...
Meink Emphasizes Technological Excellence, Acquisition Transformation During Ohio Immersion
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink wrapped up a week‑long immersion at Wright‑Patterson Air Force Base on April 3, emphasizing the Air Force Materiel Command’s push for technological excellence and faster acquisition cycles. He toured AFMC’s six centers, the Air...
Meink Emphasizes Technological Excellence, Acquisition Transformation During Ohio Immersion
During an Ohio immersion event, Space Force acquisition leader Lt. Gen. Meink highlighted the service’s push for technological excellence and a sweeping acquisition transformation. He outlined new rapid‑prototype initiatives, tighter integration with commercial partners, and a data‑driven decision framework. Meink...
Japanese Team Unveils Lightweight Mirror for Ultra‑Sharp X‑ray Telescope
Scientists at Nagoya University have built a lightweight nickel mirror that lets a sounding‑rocket X‑ray telescope resolve a 3.5 mm target from a kilometer away. Tested at the SPring‑8 synchrotron, the system will fly aboard the US‑Japan FOXSI‑4 mission, marking a...
Kongsberg Develops New Drone Hunter Vehicle for Ukraine
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has unveiled a donor‑funded Inguar‑3 counter‑drone vehicle tailored for Ukraine, pairing a Ukrainian‑made armored chassis with the firm’s CROWS C‑UAS kit. The system integrates electro‑optical and infrared sensors on a raised mast and can fire 70 mm...
Skyeton Unveils Zero‑Emission Fuel‑Cell Drone, Aiming for 20‑Hour Flights
Skyeton announced that its hybrid Raybird (ACS‑3) fuel‑cell drone has entered combat service with over 10 hours of flight time, and plans to extend endurance to 20 hours using on‑site green‑hydrogen generation. The move could reshape both military and civilian...
Amazon Mulls $9 B Offer for Globalstar to Accelerate Satellite Broadband
Amazon is exploring a bid valued around $9 billion for Globalstar, a satellite communications firm with valuable spectrum licenses in more than 120 countries. The move would speed Amazon’s plan to expand its Project Kuiper constellation, which currently trails rivals like...
Airbus Delivers 500th A220 as March Output Signals Production Ramp-Up
Airbus announced the delivery of its 500th A220 jet on April 10, 2026, marking a milestone for the narrow‑body program. The company reported 60 commercial aircraft deliveries in March, up from a combined 54 in January and February, signaling a...
Hughes Readies Satellite Antenna Combo for Airlines
Hughes Network Systems announced a new electronically steerable antenna (ESA) that merges Ka‑band and Ku‑band capabilities, aiming to free airlines from reliance on a single satellite network. The solution pairs the existing HL1520 Ku‑band ESA with a newly developed Ka‑band...
Russia Calls for Expanded International Space Cooperation on Gagarin's 65th Anniversary
On the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov urged expanded international cooperation in space. The appeal comes as Russia reports $6.5 bn in industry revenue, 17 launches last year and plans...
SpaceX Deploys 25 Starlink V2 Mini Satellites on Falcon 9 From Vandenberg
SpaceX lifted 25 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, using booster B1100 on its fourth flight. The launch highlights the company's push to treat orbit as a manufacturing line, accelerating global broadband...
Watch: SpaceX Launches Cygnus XL Cargo Ship to Resupply ISS Crew
SpaceX's Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 7:41 a.m. EDT on Saturday, carrying Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft. The Cygnus XL is bound for the International Space Station to deliver scientific experiments, food, and equipment for the crew....
United Airlines' Massive 364-Seat Boeing 777s: Every Route Listed
United Airlines' fleet includes 19 Boeing 777‑200s, seven of which are stored due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues. All 777‑200s have been reconfigured to 364 seats, making them the highest‑capacity aircraft in United’s domestic lineup and surpassing rivals’ largest planes....
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Chris Quilty, Quilty Space
Chris Quilty, co‑CEO of Quilty Space, has become a pivotal voice in satellite market intelligence, most notably after his September 2025 projection that Starlink would generate $15.9 billion in revenue and $11 billion in EBITDA for 2026. His forecasts have been baked into...
Airhart Takes Off
Airhart Aeronautics, founded by former SpaceX avionics engineer Nikita Ermoshkin, unveiled a four‑seat prototype that consumes just 7.4 gallons of fuel per hour and features a dual‑touch “electronized” cockpit that automates routine tasks. The company raised $4.56 million in venture capital...
Qantas Nonstop London-Sydney Flights Move One Step Closer
Qantas has placed an order for 12 Airbus A350‑900ULR aircraft equipped with Rolls‑Royce engines to power its Project Sunrise nonstop service between London and Sydney. The first jet, now in Toulouse, includes a 20,000‑litre rear fuel tank that will support...
NASA Is the Most Underrated Brand
Four astronauts completed Artemis II, the deepest crewed flight to date, looping the Moon with a 5.7 million‑pound rocket. The mission reignited public pride, with 80% of Americans rating NASA favorably and its website rivaling major tech brands in traffic. Despite higher...
Mission Control Taps Magellan Aerospace for Lunar Utility Rover Systems
Mission Control announced that Magellan Aerospace will develop core subsystems for Canada’s Lunar Utility Rover, a semi‑autonomous, minibus‑sized vehicle. The Canadian Space Agency has earmarked about $985 million USD in total, with $876 million USD allocated over 13 years for design and...
NASA and Contractors Accelerate Mobile Launcher Refurbishment, Artemis III Hardware to Meet New Schedule
NASA is accelerating the Artemis program to enable a mid‑2027 Artemis III launch, moving solid‑rocket booster deliveries forward and fast‑tracking mobile‑launcher refurbishment. The 112‑meter‑tall mobile launcher will be inspected, power‑washed, and welded to remove corrosive booster residue and repair heat‑warped structure...
HAPS Specialist Claims Record for Stratospheric Flight
US aerospace firm Sceye completed a 12‑day, 6,400‑mile stratospheric flight from New Mexico to Brazil, setting a record with 88 hours over the target area. The SE2 HAPS platform maintained power, position and pressure loops using solar energy and batteries,...
MDA Announces Orbital Servicing Platform
MDA Space unveiled MDA Midnight, an on‑orbit servicing platform, at the Space Symposium. The satellite is built for rendezvous and proximity operations to detect, identify, counter and deter threats to space assets. Its inaugural mission will showcase inspection, electronic‑countermeasure mitigation,...
Delta Air Lines to Operate Edinburgh-New York Service Year-Round
Delta Air Lines announced it will operate a year‑round service between Edinburgh and New York, converting the previously seasonal route into a permanent offering. The airline will deploy Airbus A330‑300 aircraft equipped with Delta One and Main Cabin seats, providing...
British Airways Starts Cancelling Some Short-Haul Services in May as Jet Fuel Prices Surge
British Airways announced it will cancel several short‑haul flights in May as jet fuel prices spike following heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The airline said it is combining high‑frequency services but most routes will still operate as scheduled....
With Renewed Interest in Going to the Moon, How Will Future Trash Be Dealt With?
Renewed lunar activity has revived concerns over the 400,000 lb (181 t) of Apollo-era trash now classified as human heritage under the 2020 One Small Step Act. While the Artemis Accords and UN bodies stress debris mitigation, concrete plans for surface waste...
Artemis 2: Our Favorite Photos From NASA's Historic Moon Mission
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission concluded on April 10 with a splashdown in the Pacific after a 10‑day flight around the Moon’s far side. The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—set several historic milestones, including the first woman and the...
Physical AI and Space Infrastructure Outpace Software Names
ListingTrack Weekly Theme Recap (Week Ending 04/10/26) This week, Next Gen Defense and New Space both traded higher, with strength skewed toward space infrastructure, Earth observation and physical AI platforms, while pockets of software‑heavy cyber, AI decision‑support and one launch name...
House Appropriations Markup Dates Set for FY2027 Bills
Haven't heard anything yet about a NASA FY2027 hearing, but House Appropriations will markup the CJS bill at sbcmte level on April 30 and full cmte on May 13. Sbcmte markup and full cmte markup of the Defense bill are...
Funding Surge Won’t Fix Missile Production Bottlenecks
The FY27 DoD budget bets big on munitions — and Congress funding it. But money won’t solve everything: bottlenecks in solid rocket motors and seekers will still constrain missile production. My thoughts for @ValerieInsinna @BreakingDefense : https://t.co/nApt3Xul7I
Regent Squire WIGE Drone Completes Inaugural Flight
Regent Squire Wing-In-Ground Effect Drone Demonstrator Makes First Flight Squire is designed to take on multiple roles and the Marines say they are monitoring the aircraft's progress. https://t.co/sA4Iv5JZPr
Better In‑Flight Wi‑Fi Will End Guilt‑Free Reading
starlink/leo competition is going to solve airline wifi and that means i will no longer be able to simply read a novel sans guilt while flying
Artemis II Post‑Flight Press Conference
The Artemis II post-flight press conf is this Thursday, Apr 16, at 2:30 pm ET. https://t.co/53UepeaDOb Watch on YouTube.
US Army Expends All Precision Strike Missiles Early in Iran Conflict
The US Army fired its entire stock of Precision Strike Missiles in the opening stages of the war against Iran. via @TheDEWLine https://t.co/CvFJqTGvTs
MGU Revives Apophis Mission as Modern Cubesat
Moscow State University, MGU (my alma mater;) suddenly revived the idea of a mission to Apophis, but now in a cubesat form. No mention of the original project from two decades ago, but https://t.co/5Uo4JA9Xcu uniquely preserves the context: https://t.co/oNmeevbzhR https://t.co/nNmr4JJzyS
German Soldiers Pilot FPV Drones via Goggles
Inside Germany’s New FPV #Drone Unit: Soldiers Fly Missions Through Goggles by @NSTRIKE1231 #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/K0bEhAZIwv
Hawkeye360 IPO Preps with $117M Revenue, Massive Backlog
Satellite signals-intel provider @hawkeye360, preparing IPO on @NYSE, reports $117.7M in 2025 rev, $24.8M EBITDA and sharply lower operating loss. Revenue was 61% US government, 16% Japan, 23% rest of world. Backlog, at $302.7M, up 6.8x from 2024.https://t.co/E8IPZWf3pK https://t.co/QgmLlopOAW
Ed Responds to United’s New Long‑Haul Strategy
A few episodes ago on The Air Show podcast when we were driving into United’s new long haul offerings, I closed with “Your move, Ed.” Ed’s move:
Funding Cuts Kill Reusable Angara Rocket Plans
...Last but not least, all attempts to develop a reusable version of the Angara rocket are now dead due to absence of funding for that purpose in the newly approved budget, Khrunichev official said. CONTEXT: https://t.co/Mp292k3hJC https://t.co/ENtbupoBsX
Inside the 747-8i Conversion to Doomsday Plane
Exclusive: I recently had the chance to get on a 747-8i that SNC is converting into an E-4C Doomsday plane, for an up-close look at how the work is beginning and the outlook for the program In the latest issue of...
Delta's New Business Suites, Coach Gets Real Upgrade
Delta Finally Announces Its New Business Class Suites — But The Most Important Upgrade Is Actually In Coach - View from the Wing https://t.co/VoO8Qjx6XJ
