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
John Crane Supports NASA’s Artemis II Lunar Mission
John Crane announced its support for NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission, slated for launch no earlier than February 2026. The company will supply specialized filtration sieves for the Orion spacecraft’s propellant‑management devices, critical for separating liquid and gas phases in micro‑gravity. This contribution is part of a broader, multi‑division effort by Smiths Group, which also provides tubing and high‑speed cable assemblies. Artemis II will be the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo era, marking a major milestone for human space exploration.
ALM Services Wins Contracts At ORD, BWI
ALM Services, a specialist in airport logistics, has secured two new contracts: a Loading Dock Management agreement for Terminal 5 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and a Central Receiving and Distribution Center (CRDC) services contract at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall...
Bull Signal Flashing on Struggling Aerospace Stock
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) has retreated about 8% from its January 22 peak, settling near $12.39. The stock sits within 0.75 of its 50‑day moving average’s 20‑day ATR, a bullish signal that historically preceded a 5.9% average gain after one...
Space Station Research Contributes to Artemis II
NASA leverages the International Space Station as a proving ground for technologies that will fly on Artemis II, the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo. Research on the ISS has shaped Orion’s life‑support, radiation sensors, carbon‑dioxide removal, and emergency systems. Experiments...
Scientists Make a Game-Changing Find in the Bennu Asteroid
NASA’s OSIRIS‑REx mission returned Bennu samples containing the amino acid glycine. Penn State researchers used isotopic mass spectrometry to show the glycine likely formed in icy, radiation‑exposed conditions rather than liquid water. The isotopic signatures differ from those in the...
ATR’s Turboprop Monopoly in Slow-Growth Market
ATR reported 2025 results with $1.2 billion revenue, 60 gross orders (50 net) and a backlog exceeding 160 aircraft. Deliveries fell to 32 units, below target, as supply‑chain constraints hampered production. The company highlighted strong leasing activity, new operators across continents,...
North Aircraft Industries Is Manufacturing the Cavorite X7 VTOL Composite Wings
North Aircraft Industries (NAI) has secured a partnership with New Horizon Aircraft to manufacture and test the composite wings for the Cavorite X7 VTOL, a novel aircraft whose wings open to expose twelve electric lift fans for vertical take‑off. The wing’s...
Porter Airlines Expands Network with New Austin Route and Chicago Airport Swap
Porter Airlines announced three network additions: year‑round service between Toronto Pearson and Austin, a shift of its Toronto‑Chicago flights from Midway to O’Hare, and a seasonal Ottawa‑Deer Lake route. The Austin‑Toronto flights begin May 21, the Chicago airport change takes effect...
Unruly Passenger Forces Delta Flight Return, Safety Concerns Rise
Delta just had to turn Flight 2557 (Houston Hobby to Atlanta) right back around after takeoff this morning. 85 passengers on a Boeing 717, one guy starts acting unruly and unlawful toward others. He approached crew/passengers but Delta confirms zero...
United Airlines Plane Declared a Crime Scene After a Bullet Is Discovered in an Overhead Bin
United Airlines’ Newark‑based Boeing 737 was grounded on Feb. 17 after a single bullet was found in an overhead bin, prompting investigators to declare the aircraft a crime scene. The flight, UA‑1511 to Miami, was delayed nearly three hours while security...
SkyGrid, Wisk Aero Propose New Class of Flight Rules to Enable Automated AAM Operations
SkyGrid and Wisk Aero released a white paper detailing Automated Flight Rules (AFR) and a new Class X low‑altitude airspace to enable scalable urban air mobility (UAM). The proposal builds on a 2025 concept of operations, shifting from high‑level guidance to...
Marlink Integrates Microsoft ExpressRoute for Managed Cloud Connectivity
Marlink announced that it will deliver direct, secure global access to Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 through the Microsoft ExpressRoute program. The service uses Marlink’s multi‑orbit satellite network and global Points of Presence to provide private, dedicated circuits that bypass...
882 Air Accident Updates
The episode reviews recent aviation safety incidents, including the preventable DCA mid‑air collision highlighted by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, a JetBlue A320 software glitch lawsuit against Airbus, and investigations into an Air India 787 fuel‑control switch issue, a United 777...
Mitsubishi Electric Follows Digital-First Strategy for Advanced Air Mobility
Mitsubishi Electric United States is rolling out a digital‑first strategy that blends SaaS platforms, data‑driven tools, and AI to bridge physical and digital operations. Its flagship AnyMile logistics software orchestrates cargo‑drone missions, handling fleet, airspace, payload, and regulatory complexities. The...
TAP TP1240: Near-CFIT Incident in Prague on January 17th
On January 17, 2026, TAP Air Portugal flight TP1240, an Airbus A320neo, descended well below the Minimum Safe Altitude during its ILS approach to Prague’s Runway 06, reaching only about 2,600 ft MSL—roughly 1,000 ft above ground—before ATC intervened and the crew recovered...
TWA 514 Miscommunication Redefined Aviation Safety Standards
A Fatal Misunderstanding During This Flight Affected Aviation Forever… TWA Flight 514 (Part 1) #aviation #airplane #pilot #planes #mentourpilot
Spaceborne Sensors Reveal Global Chlorophyll Patterns
Notes from the Field https://t.co/xwDzaniIAE 2 min read Notes from the Field Looking at Chlorophyll from Space By Compton “Jim” Tucker Tucker began his ground studies using a handheld instrument built by one of his classmates. “The instrument was l… https://t.co/kJTrbVQZ7o
The D Brief: Sentinel’s Progress; Buildup Near Iran; Canada’s Decoupling Plan; Russia Targets Ukrainian Energy; And a Bit More.
The Air Force announced that the Sentinel ICBM program will enter engineering and manufacturing development this year, targeting an initial deployment in early 2030 after a recent schedule acceleration. Meanwhile, the Pentagon opened a competition for voice‑controlled drone swarms, drawing...
COBE Satellite Confirms Big Bang's Cosmic Microwave Background
Measuring the Big Bang with the COBE satellite https://t.co/gJB6QAzHt0 4 min read Measuring the Big Bang with the COBE satellite By John Mather The Cosmic Background Explorer satellite (COBE) went up on a Delta rocket on Nov. 18, 1989, into a polar …...
Four Decades of Tracking Sun‑Earth Energy Balance
42 Years of Measuring the Sun, the Earth and the Energy in Between https://t.co/uZalndm6yv 5 min read 42 Years of Measuring the Sun, the Earth and the Energy in Between By Denise Lineberry NASA’s Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), a part of th…...
225 - What Are the Biggest Untapped Opportunities in Satellite IoT?
In this episode, Jake Saunders, Vice President at ABI Research, breaks down the firm’s latest report on satellite IoT, highlighting a projected $3.1 billion market size by 2030. He outlines the most promising yet under‑served commercial verticals—such as remote agriculture, maritime...
From Post‑Independence India to NASA Hubble Scientist
The Sky Belongs to All of Us https://t.co/n9KwxP7yJV 6 min read The Sky Belongs to All of Us By Hashima Hasan How did a little girl born in India soon after its independence from the British Empire, become a program scientist for NASA’s...
Boeing Returns Defense HQ to St. Louis, F/A-XX Future Uncertain
Boeing just announced the move of its defense unit HQ back to St. Louis, where McDonnell Douglas was headquartered (and where Boeing continues to build fighters and weapons). Industry always welcomes a SecDef visit but real question for workforce will be...
Continuous Composites Awarded $1.25 Million to Advance Joining Methods with CF3D
Continuous Composites secured a $1.25 million AFWERX Manufacturing Challenge contract to advance CF3D joining and stiffening techniques for aerospace structures. CF3D merges precise fiber steering, rapid UV curing, and computational design into a digitally driven, scalable production process. The 15‑month project...
Updated Design Adds Bigger Tail Flag, Cooler Engines
New design (left). First Trump admin (right). Much larger flag on the tail, different color on the engines--possibly related to the thermal concerns raised a couple years back. https://t.co/e5GPwczads
Aging E‑3 Fleet Deployed to Iran, Highlighting Capability Gaps
Major Deployment Of Rickety E-3 Sentry Fleet For Iran Crisis Highlights Worrisome Gaps The shrunken E-3 fleet isn't getting any younger, and a replacement is still far off while demand for its services would be far greater in the Pacific. Story: https://t.co/bX9Y8kMlqE
Why Insider Threats May Make Satellite Hacking Significantly Easier
The article argues that insider threats could dramatically lower the barriers to satellite hacking, as insiders can bypass air‑gap protections and exploit the growing use of off‑the‑shelf Linux hardware. It highlights how complex supply chains, contractor relationships, and recent geopolitical...
2‑Year Postdoc in Uncrewed Systems at Swedish Defence University
Great opportunity for a 2-year post doctoral position at the Swedish Defence University here for those working on uncrewed systems: https://t.co/CYy5Wnh91N
NASA Streams Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal Live
NASA to Provide Coverage of Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal https://t.co/rxwM8XMwP3 The Moon rises behind NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft atop a mobile launcher at Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center… https://t.co/eqMQkf9VGf
AIAA Identifies Top Technologies Transforming Aerospace
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) released a new report identifying ten technologies that will reshape aerospace by 2045, based on a survey of over 700 experts and interviews with senior leaders. The list includes AI‑aided design, alternative...
Perseverance Rover Pinpoints Exact Spot at Mala Mala
Perseverance Pinpoints Its Location at ‘Mala Mala’ https://t.co/WAn1uwS0AO 2 Min Read Perseverance Pinpoints Its Location at ‘Mala Mala’ PIA26704 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal … https://t.co/uIsjK8MVSg
EU Guarantees Iris2 Access for Governments, Limits Others
EU Commission @defis_eu: Iris2 capacity to be free for EU govts, whose comms will be confidential, not shared w/ others. In time of crisis, non-govt users will be preempted. @esa @EUDefenceAgency @EU4Space. @SESSpaceDefense @EutelsatGroup @Hispasat.https://t.co/QFF3UPPXsq https://t.co/56rvMAcqIo
U.S. Firms Test Venom Autonomous Strike Aircraft
Divergent Technologies and Mach Industries unveiled Venom, an autonomous strike aircraft prototype that reached flight readiness in just 71 days. The rapid development leveraged Mach's modular open‑systems architecture and Divergent's Adaptive Production System, which uses additive manufacturing to produce monolithic...
Rapid Escalation Risks, but Limits Curb China‑Taiwan Invasion
You see the timeline for movements for the Iranian contingency. Also the size of the force available. Now think about China turning one of their big 'exercises' into a sudden invasion of Taiwan. Yes things can be sped up, but...
Perseverance Autonomously Determines Its Exact Position on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance Now Autonomously Pinpoints Its Location on Mars https://t.co/8qoxW8kBAC 7 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) There is no GPS at the Red Planet, but a new technology called Mars Global Loc… https://t.co/97K7QBdDE0
Walter Pritzkow OCMC Becomes Key Lightweight Enabler for Jetoptera Drone
Jetoptera is partnering with Walter E.C. Pritzkow Spezialkeramik (WPS) to integrate lightweight oxide ceramic matrix composite (OCMC) thrusters into its DARPA LIFT Challenge aircraft. The OCMC thrusters deliver 90 pound‑force of thrust while keeping the propulsion system light enough to meet...
Katie Oriti Leads Orion European Service Module Integration
I Am Artemis: Katie Oriti https://t.co/LcpoLSwKgP 3 Min Read I Am Artemis: Katie Oriti Katie Oriti manages the Orion European Service Module Integration Office, working closely with commercial and international partners to ensure the m… https://t.co/vbUCwAW7zC
MBDA Develops Sovereign, Interoperable European Military Space Network
European missile maker @MBDAGroup on building a sovereign, interoperable military space network. @defis_eu #EuropeanSpaceConf. https://t.co/EXzbZr66rT https://t.co/EA9DMPiTXE
Ep 38: Interview with Lt. General (Ret.) David Buck, President, BRPH Mission Solutions
In this episode, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) David J. Buck discusses how his three‑decade Air Force career—spanning strategic missile, space launch, satellite command, and cyber operations—shapes his work leading BRBR Mission Solutions, a firm that designs and builds mission‑critical infrastructure for...
Hubble Discovers One of the Darkest Known Galaxies
NASA’s Hubble Identifies One of Darkest Known Galaxies https://t.co/CCUrV0EXzB Explore Hubble Hubble Home Overview About Hubble The History of Hubble Hubble Timeline Why Have a Telescope in Space? Hubble by the Numbers At the Museum FAQs Impa… https://t.co/abJljA2mN4
Exobrake Deployment Detected via Sharp Decay Spike
TechEdSat-11 was a 6UXL cubesat from NASA-Ames and San Jose State to test an exobrake drag device, launched on 2024 Jul 4. It reentered Feb 15; the decay rate increased sharply on Jan 16, likely marking the exobrake deployment. https://t.co/qEcoxQwW7c
Why GPS III, and What Comes After It, Still Falls Short in Modern War
The United States is completing its GPS III constellation, the most extensive PNT upgrade in a decade, delivering higher accuracy, stronger signals and improved anti‑jam features. Analysts argue that while GPS III and the upcoming GPS IIIF add incremental resilience, they do not...
Chief of Air Staff Fireside Chat Highlights at RAeS
Cool video round-up of yesterday's Fireside Chat by @ChiefofAirStaff at RAeS HQ. #avgeek #defence https://t.co/2UyfTpsJ4R
Large Grain Growth Threatens Composite Pressure Vessel Integrity
TB 26-02 Effects of Large Grain Size in Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel https://t.co/aXGp4DhjaE The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) performed an assessment to characterize the effects of abnormal grain growth (AGG) within a metallic liner of a composite overwr…
WingtraRAY Earns C6 Mark for Advanced EU Flights
Swiss drone maker Wingtra announced that its WingtraRAY mapping platform has secured both C3 and C6 certifications under the EASA framework, issued by TÜV Rheinland. The C6 mark, tied to specific‑category standardized risk scenarios, unlocks beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) operations when the...
Starship's 25 Launches/Year Heralds Orbital Industrialization
Starship targeting 25 launches/year in 2026-2027. Each launch = 100-150 tons to orbit. Do the math: 2,500+ tons/year of payload capacity. That's not space exploration. That's orbital industrialization. Go @elonmusk.
UK Trial Shows Potential of Hydrogen Powered Ground Handling Equipment
A successful trial at Exeter Airport demonstrated that hydrogen‑powered ground handling equipment—including a hydrogen internal‑combustion tug, a fuel‑cell baggage tractor and a hybrid hydrogen‑diesel GPU—can be safely integrated into live airport operations. The Zero Carbon Turn project, backed by the...
Leonardo DRS Joins SHIELD Missile Defense Program
Leonardo DRS announced it has secured multiple awards under the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD IDIQ contract, which carries a shared ceiling of $151 billion. The contracts position the company to compete for future task orders aimed at accelerating the development and...
Apache Helicopters Downed Drones With 30mm Proximity Ammo
The U.S. Army’s AH‑64 Apache attack helicopter successfully employed 30 mm proximity‑fuzed ammunition to engage and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles during a December training exercise at Yuma Proving Ground. This marks the first documented air‑to‑air kill by an Apache using purpose‑built...
Shareholder Advisory Firm Urges Vote Against Avio Bylaw Amendments
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended Avio shareholders reject a set of bylaw amendments slated for a March 3 extraordinary meeting. The proposals would fix the board at nine members, giving the largest shareholder seven seats while reducing minority representation, and...