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
Episode 145: Robotics and Automation in Manufacturing - Agata Suwala
In this episode, Claire interviews Agata Suwala, Technology Manager at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, about how robotics and automation are being used to make manufacturing—especially in aerospace—more sustainable and scalable. Agata explains the latest advances in robotic dexterity, the role of automation in reducing waste and energy use, and how these technologies support a circular economy. She also highlights the impact of ARIA’s Robot Dexterity programme in accelerating innovation and boosting human productivity on the factory floor.
NASA Moves Forward with Artemis II Tanking Test that Could Set up Moonshot Mission
NASA will begin a 700,000‑gallon cryogenic propellant load on the Space Launch System at Kennedy Space Center as part of a second wet‑dress rehearsal for Artemis II. The test follows a February 2 leak of liquid hydrogen that forced a pause in...
Canada Certifies Airbus H175, Opening Door to Public Service Missions
Airbus has secured Transport Canada certification for its H175 super‑medium helicopter, clearing the path for commercial and public‑service use in Canada. The company says a broad spectrum of potential customers are showing interest, though no operator has been confirmed and...
Avelo Airlines Cuts 29% Of Flights: Why Is The Budget Carrier Shrinking So Fast?
Avelo Airlines announced a 29% cut to its Q2 2026 schedule, removing over 3,000 flights compared with a year earlier. The reduction stems from closing two East Coast bases, ending West Coast operations, and accelerating the retirement of its Boeing...
SpaceX Launch to Feature Rare Booster Landing in Bahamas
SpaceX will launch the Falcon 9 Starlink 10‑36 mission from Cape Canaveral on Thursday night, targeting a 95% favorable weather window. The first‑stage booster, on its 26th flight, will attempt a downrange landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed off...
France and India Secure Long-Term Defence Roadmap Built on Shared Production
During President Emmanuel Macron’s February visit, France and India signed 21 defence agreements cementing a decade‑long roadmap worth $40‑50 billion. The pact expands Rafale fighter production, launches a Safran‑led M88 engine assembly line in India, and creates a Bharat Electronics‑Safran joint...
16 Air Assault Demos AI-Enabled Air Manoeuvre Strike
The British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team showcased AI‑enabled reconnaissance‑strike capabilities during a visit by Chief of the General Staff General Sir Roly Walker. The demonstration linked new hardware, software and procedures to accelerate target acquisition and air‑delivered...
A-4 Pilot Recalls when His Skyhawk Cabin Pressurization Failed at 40000 + Feet During a Test Flight
A Navy A‑4 Skyhawk maintenance test pilot climbed above 40,000 feet to verify the aircraft’s pressure‑breathing cabin system. During the test the pressurization failed, causing a sudden influx of pure liquid oxygen, cockpit flooding and even a watch explosion. The pilot...
Navy Declares IOC for SDB II on Super Hornet
The U.S. Navy has declared initial operational capability for the GBU‑53/B Small Diameter Bomb II on its F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet, completing a transition that began with limited use in 2025. The StormBreaker’s tri‑mode seeker—infrared, millimeter‑wave radar and semi‑active laser—enables all‑weather,...
U.S. Startup Confirms Six-Hour Test of AERO Sky Hybrid Drone
Petrel Technologies announced that its AERO Sky hybrid VTOL drone completed a six‑hour flight test, demonstrating hundreds of miles of real‑time reconnaissance capability. The platform combines vertical take‑off with fixed‑wing efficiency, delivering a low‑cost Group 3 UAV with modular payloads for...
Smile Sets Sail for Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana
The ESA‑China SMILE spacecraft has completed its Atlantic crossing and arrived at Kourou’s Europe’s Spaceport, ready for integration with a Vega‑C launcher. A launch window from 8 April to 7 May 2026 has been set, targeting a comprehensive study of Earth’s response...
United States and Germany Lead the Way as Boeing 777X Introduces Groundbreaking Wingtip Safety System
Boeing’s 777X will enter service with a first‑of‑its‑kind active takeoff inhibition system that verifies the folding wingtip configuration before departure. The aircraft’s 235‑foot wingspan can be reduced to 212 feet on the ground, allowing it to fit existing Code E gates at...
Altomaxx RPAS Specialist – UAS/RPAS Pilot (Calgary AB)
Altomaxx Technologies, a Canadian drone‑service leader, is hiring experienced UAS/RPAS pilots for its Calgary field‑operations team. The role supports oil‑and‑gas inspections, ground‑penetrating radar, bathymetry, and confined‑space surveys across domestic and international projects. Candidates must hold a Transport Canada RPAS Pilot...
Bjorn’s Corner: Faster Aircraft Development. Part 28. Development Times.
The Leeham study tracks a seven‑year development cycle for a new 200‑seat airliner, mapping each certification milestone from concept to entry‑into‑service. Modern tools such as 3D CAD, PLM and Digital Twin have trimmed design and documentation effort, but the overall...
UK Joins NATO Ballistic Missile Defence Effort
The United Kingdom has joined six NATO allies in a new High Visibility Project aimed at bolstering ballistic missile defence. Announced on 12 February 2026, the initiative will develop and field sensors, interceptors and tactical control systems to plug gaps...
Embention Named in Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Spain for Sustained Growth
Embention, a developer of UAV autopilots and high‑reliability avionics, has been named to Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 Spain, recognizing four years of strong revenue growth. The accolade underscores the company’s certified avionics for UAVs and eVTOL platforms, built to DO‑160,...
What Are The Best Seats In Each Class Of Delta Air Lines' Boeing 757s?
Delta Air Lines operates the largest U.S. fleet of Boeing 757s—about 110 aircraft—as of late 2025, but the airline has deliberately avoided a single cabin layout. This results in noticeable differences in seat comfort across the 757‑200 and the more uniform 757‑300,...
Artemis Spacesuits Technical Overview
NASA’s Artemis program has introduced the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), a next‑generation lunar spacesuit designed for the harsh South Pole environment. The suit adopts a commercial xEVAS procurement model, giving private partner Axiom Space ownership and the ability to...
Houston, We Have a Hub: Why Singapore’s New Space Agency Is a Game-Changer for the Global Space Economy
The episode breaks down Singapore’s launch of its National Space Agency (NSAS) announced at the Space Summit 2026, highlighting the nation’s strategic shift from a regional tech hub to a pivotal player in the global space economy. It explains how...
Southwest Airlines Staying “Optimistic” For Boeing 737 MAX 7 Debut In Early 2027
Southwest Airlines remains optimistic that Boeing will deliver the 737 MAX 7 in early 2027 after a series of delays spanning seven years. The carrier, which holds 90% of the MAX 7 order book and 269 firm orders, has accelerated MAX 8 deliveries to...
US Air Force Proves AI Wingmen Can Fly Across Rival Platforms
The U.S. Air Force has taken ownership of the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A‑GRA) and applied it to multiple aircraft, proving AI wingmen can operate on rival platforms such as the YFQ‑42 and YFQ‑44. By decoupling software from any single...
Governor Kelly Announces $3M to Develop Unmanned Aerial Systems Technology for Agricultural Research
Governor Laura Kelly announced a $3 million state grant to Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems for developing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) unmanned aerial systems aimed at Kansas agriculture. The funding, approved during the 2025 legislative session, builds on the state’s...
GE Aerospace Invests $300M to Boost Singapore Repair Hub
bbaviation7 had an exclusive interview with Iain Rodger, Managing Director of GE Aerospace Component Repair Singapore, where he shares how the Singapore site supports GE Aerospace’s global MRO network and the engine components repaired here. We also talk about GE Aerospace’s...
Before Rafale: The French Fighter Jet That India Wanted – But It Never Took Off. A Look at Dassault Mirage...
Dassault Aviation’s Mirage‑4000 was a twin‑engine, heavyweight fighter prototype that never entered production, largely because the French government declined to fund it and required carrier capability. The aircraft showcased advanced technologies—composite structures, high thrust‑to‑weight ratio, and Mach 2 performance—that later informed...
AI-Powered Geospatial Platform Rivals Google Earth, Palantir
Between Gemini 3.1 and Claude 4.6 it's honestly wild what you can build. This feels like Google Earth and Palantir had a baby. Made this with all the geospatial bells and whistles -- real time plane & satellite tracking, real traffic...
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal Completes Without Major Issues
NASA has reached the end of today's Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal with no major issues reported. https://t.co/CwpiNIEJYz https://t.co/rPZmmaWMuf
Inside Finland’s Rapid Rise as a Space Powerhouse
Finland has transformed from a modest satellite launcher into a competitive space hub within a decade, leveraging its engineering heritage and strategic government backing. The nation boosted its ESA contribution by 59%, reaching €233 million for 2025, while Finnish firms ICEYE,...
PIT First Airport to Be Awarded Universal Design Certificate From IDEA Center
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) became the first airport globally to receive Universal Design Certification from the University at Buffalo’s IDEA Center. The award recognizes PIT’s superior performance in wayfinding, lighting, mobility access, and sensory inclusion, and highlights its newly reimagined...
Navy Pursues New AWACS‑Killer Anti‑Radiation Missile
Hunt For Anti-Radiation Missile That Can Down Enemy Radar Planes Kicked-Off By Navy The 'AWACS killer' Advanced Emission Suppression Missile will also be able to strike air defenses on land and sea. https://t.co/BNrywXdNe7
USSF Wants to Get Battle Management Tools From Lab to Operations Faster
The U.S. Space Force is restructuring its advanced battle‑management pipeline by moving the Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications, and Processing (SDA TAP) Lab under the Kronos command‑and‑control system. Over the next 18 months, the program aims to transition more lab‑derived tools...
Istanbul Leads, Regions Rise: Turkish Airports Build a Platform for Long-Term Rowth
Turkey’s aviation sector posted one of Europe’s strongest growth stories in 2025, driven by a surge in passenger demand and a resilient operational model. Istanbul Airport solidified its rank among Europe’s top hubs, handling record traffic while introducing triple independent...
NASA Releases Starliner Investigation Results: Type A Mishap
NASA released the investigation of the Starliner Crew Flight Test, labeling it a Type A mishap. The probe identified five service‑module thruster failures caused by oxidizer‑vapor‑induced two‑phase flow and Teflon poppet extrusion, and widespread helium‑manifold leaks due to seal material incompatibility...
Singapore Airshow: Part Two – Embraer and ATR Target Asia Pacific Growth Opportunities
At the Singapore Airshow, Embraer and ATR highlighted the Asia‑Pacific region as the next growth frontier for regional aircraft. While turboprops already hold a solid share, regional jets remain under‑represented, with narrow‑ and wide‑bodies making up more than 90% of...
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal On Track, Launch Window Opening Soon
Artemis II WDR still proceeding well. Closeout crew has left the pad. Just over one hour to opening of simulated launch window. https://t.co/Yi2WnQb4m5
China Lays Out Its Plan To Develop A Space-Based Data Centre
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC) unveiled a five‑year roadmap that includes building a space‑based data centre, alongside asteroid mining, debris monitoring and tourism initiatives. The orbital data centre would rely on solar power to deliver computing, storage and...
Hill Air Force Base Bids Farewell to A-10 Depot Mission as Final Warthog Departs
The U.S. Air Force held a "Hawg Out" ceremony at Hill Air Force Base as the last A-10 Thunderbolt II completed depot-level maintenance at Ogden Air Logistics Complex and prepared to depart by the end of February. The event marks...
Pratt & Whitney Shows F-47-Like Fighter in Latest XA103 Adaptive Engine Video
Pratt & Whitney released a new video showcasing its XA103 adaptive engine alongside a speculative F‑47‑style fighter design. The rendering features a twin‑engine, tailless aircraft with canards, differing from official Air Force images and likely serving as a concept illustration....
IFC Market Yet to Reach 50% Connected Figure, Valour Finds
Valour Consultancy’s latest IFEC Market Tracker shows fewer than 12,000 commercial aircraft—under half the global fleet—are equipped with in‑flight connectivity. SpaceX leads with contracts for more than 5,000 aircraft, while Chinese carriers dominate the list of airlines with the most...
Engineers Must Read Starliner Anomaly Report Summary
If you’re an engineer you need to at least read the executive summary of the Starliner Anomaly Investigation Report
KC‑390 Boom Variant Offers Agile Air Force Tanker
Based on the news today of Northrop Grumman and Embraer teaming up for next generation tanker capabilities, this is a must read from four years ago: KC-390 With A Boom Could Be The Agile Tanker The Air Force Needs https://t.co/lrJn7Owfc3
Northrop, Brazil’s Embraer Partner on KC-390 to Pitch US, Others
Northrop Grumman and Brazil’s Embraer have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly market the KC‑390 Millennium with an autonomous boom refueling system for the U.S. Air Force and allied forces. Northrop will study integrating a retrofittable boom and other...
NASA Chooses Transparency Over Sweeping Starliner Issues
The easy thing to do—the expected thing, really—would have been for NASA to sweep this report under the rug, declare Starliner-CFT a great learning experience, and say everything is going well. NASA did not do the easy thing. https://t.co/yNN1rRnLYi
Noisy Neighborhoods More Annoyed by Air Taxi Noise
"Initial results reveal that residents living in noisy areas reported being more bothered by the air taxi sounds than those in quieter areas." #avgeek
The Space Data Layer – Building an Interoperable Internet in Space
The satellite sector is shifting from launch‑centric hardware to data‑centric services, introducing a "space data layer" that fuses edge computing, AI, and optical links in orbit. This layer aims to turn raw sensor streams into sub‑second, actionable insights, effectively extending...
UK Blocks US Access to Bases, Hampering Iran Bombing Campaign
U.K. Denying U.S. Use Of Key Bases Would Impact Bombers’ Role In Iran Air Campaign The U.K. is reportedly preventing the U.S. from using Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford to attack Iran. https://t.co/YUPo74NyHL
Hypersonic Hustle & Orbital Muscle.
The episode highlights three major developments in the defense and commercial space sector: Stratolaunch securing a $90.8 million Department of War contract for the MACH‑TB 2.0 air‑launched test vehicle program, Agile Space Industries closing a $17 million Series A round to expand its small‑sat...
Geopolitical Analysis: China Challenges SpaceX Dominance with Massive LEO Governance Strategy
China has submitted ITU filings for roughly 203,000 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, marking a strategic shift from technical catch‑up to regulatory flooding. By exploiting Equivalent Power Flux Density limits, Beijing aims to reserve large portions of the interference budget, forcing rivals such...
MDA Space Launches New Subsidiary for Defense Contracting, 49North
MDA Space announced the launch of 49North, a new subsidiary dedicated to defense services such as C4ISR integration, radar, autonomous systems, and secure mission software. Joe Armstrong, a former CAE vice‑president, was named the first president. The unit builds on...
AAA Reports Record U.S. Air Travel in 2025, But Slowing Growth
U.S. airports saw a record 906 million passengers in 2025, but year‑over‑year growth fell below 1 percent, a sharp deceleration from the 5.3 percent rise in 2024. The slowdown reflects lingering economic uncertainty that delayed leisure bookings in the first half...
Artemis II Teams Stay Below Hydrogen Leak Safety Limit
This is encouraging: "Teams reached this step without exceeding the ground safety limit of the hydrogen leak concentration, as was observed during the first Artemis II wet dress rehearsal."