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
OroraTech’s New Exec Plans to Step on the Gas
OroraTech, which grew its satellite constellation from two to over ten in 2025, has hired industry veteran Ignacio Zuleta as chief technology and product officer. Zuleta plans to abandon the company’s previous sequential deployment model and accelerate satellite launches to reach a few hundred satellites, delivering global coverage with 15‑minute revisit times and 50 m resolution. The strategy relies heavily on hosted‑payload agreements, allowing up to two‑thirds of its sensors to ride on partner satellites and shorten integration timelines. This shift emphasizes rapid data availability over raw pixel resolution.
BlackSky Lands 8‑figure Satellite Deal, Delivery in Months
A week after 7-figure deal w/ international customer, @BlackSky_Inc announces a new 8-figure contract with an international govt for purchase of a 35-cm-resolution Gen-3 satellite w/ multi-year operation and analytics package. Contract to be delivered 'w/in months, not years.' https://t.co/AFKwVV9fNq
Artemis II: First Human Deep‑Space Flight in 50 Years
The first human spaceflight mission in over 50 years to venture beyond LEO - why Artemis II matters #NASA https://t.co/hDB2MAHbL2 https://t.co/MRfxDeQFVQ
3D Printed Helicopter Bracket Made From Recycled Titanium Takes Flight
A UK‑based flight test marked the first use of a 3D‑printed structural bracket made from recycled titanium on an A109S helicopter. The bracket, produced by Additive Manufacturing Solutions Ltd using laser powder‑bed fusion, was sourced from titanium recovered from a...
Terminal Upgrade Underway at Shannon Airport
The Shannon Airport Group has launched a €15 million upgrade of its main terminal, the first phase of a €40 million investment programme slated for completion by May 2027. The renovation replaces the 1970s façade with a modern, curved design that will accommodate...
Gulf Carriers Will Absorb Half of All New Air Cargo Capacity
Air cargo capacity is set to outpace demand in 2026, with Gulf carriers slated to absorb roughly half of the new wide‑body lift. Aevean forecasts about 1.7 million tonnes of fresh capacity for the Middle East and South Asia, dwarfing the...
How Mars' Toxic Soil Actually Makes Stronger Bricks
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science and the University of Florida found that adding Martian perchlorates to a regolith simulant, together with the bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii and natural guar gum, produces bricks with compressive strength more than double that...
TTTECH to Deliver TSN Solutions for US Army’s HADES ISR Programme
TTTECH North America has been awarded a contract to provide a 10‑Gigabit Time‑Sensitive Networking (TSN) platform for the U.S. Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) ISR program. The solution complies with the IEEE 802.1DP aerospace profile and integrates switches,...
SatelliteVu Secures $40M Funding, $8M Preorders
Thermal imaging satellite builder @satellitevu raises GBP 30M ($40.9M) in funding led by @NATOinnovation @BritishBBank @SpaceFrontier #PrestoTechHorizons, bringing total equity raise to $80M. Co has booked pre orders of $8M for HotSat-2, to be launched this yr w/ HotSat 3....
Hong Kong’s New T2 Departures Facility to Open in May
The Airport Authority Hong Kong announced that the departure facilities at Terminal 2 will begin operations on May 27, 2026. The rollout follows a phased commissioning that started with the Coach Hall in September 2025 and aligns with expected summer travel demand. The new...
Exotrail Secures 31 Spacecraft Propulsion Orders From India
Satellite electric propulsion manufacturer @exotrail books orders for 31 of its spaceware units to Indian operators - 1 to @PixxelSpace, 16 to @XdlinxSpaceLabs and 14 to @DhruvaSpace. Deliveries by 2027. https://t.co/L7zChJd16V
Valen Array Advances Multi-Mission Sensing Tech
Northrop Grumman unveiled Valen, a multifunction active electronically scanned array that merges radar, electronic warfare and communications into a single lightweight aperture. The array is digitally designed and 3‑D printed, reducing size, weight, power and production lead times. Valen’s open‑architecture...
Mars Relay Orbiter Seen as Backbone for Future Exploration
NASA’s roadmap for Mars – hunting ancient life, decoding climate, and prepping for humans – hinges on a reliable data pipeline between the Red Planet and Earth. Rocket Lab proposes a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO) to replace the aging relay...
SatService to Supply Q V Band Satcom Ground Station for Bundeswehr University
SatService GmbH, a Calian Group subsidiary, secured a contract from Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence to deliver a Q V‑band satellite ground station to the Bundeswehr University in Munich. The solution features a 4‑metre high‑performance antenna and full‑service integration, enabling geostationary‑orbit...
Ukraine Denies Reports of Secret Multinational F-16 Squadron
Ukraine’s Air Force publicly refuted a report that a secret multinational F‑16 squadron, comprising Ukrainian, American and Dutch pilots, is operating over its territory. The claim, published by French outlet Intelligence Online, was labeled unsupported and inaccurate. Ukrainian officials highlighted...
Denmark Establishes MQ-9B Drone Squadron for Arctic Surveillance
Denmark’s Air Force formally created Squadron 729 to operate four MQ‑9B long‑range drones, with deliveries slated to start in 2028. The unit, based at Aalborg Air Base, will focus on surveillance across the Arctic, North Atlantic and Baltic regions. Training and...
SNC Buys Global 6500 Jet to Support HADES Surveillance Fleet
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has purchased a Bombardier Global 6500 jet using private capital to support the U.S. Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) ISR program. The aircraft is the first non‑prototype platform earmarked for the Army’s future...
Pentagon Expands THAAD Interceptor Production with L3Harris Deal
The Pentagon awarded L3Harris Technologies a nearly $400 million contract to produce solid‑rocket boost motors and Liquid Divert and Attitude Control Systems for the THAAD missile‑defense system. The deal expands interceptor production after heavy operational use, including the 150 launches recorded...
Guidance: Allied Joint Doctrine for Air and Space Operations (AJP-3.3)
Allied Joint Publication AJP‑3.3, the NATO doctrine for air and space operations, was refreshed on 17 February 2026 as Edition C Version 1. The document outlines fundamental principles, the air‑operations planning cycle, and how space capabilities support joint forces. It targets NATO commanders, staff,...
Skyeton Upgrades Raybird UAS with Satellite Communications
Skyeton has integrated satellite communications into its Raybird tactical UAV, eliminating data link range constraints and enabling continuous real‑time transmission throughout 28‑plus hour missions. The SATCOM‑enabled Raybird can now operate beyond 2,500 km, supporting deep ISR tasks in contested environments. The...
Can Digital Platforms Transform Aviation Sales?
E‑commerce’s rapid expansion is reshaping global trade, yet business aviation has lagged behind. Analysts project the digital aviation market to climb from $37.92 billion in 2022 to $65.11 billion by 2029, driven by AI‑enabled marketplaces that offer predictive analytics and real‑time pricing....
Australia Prepares for Next Batch of ‘Ghost Bat’ Warplane Buddy Drones
Australia is expanding its collaborative combat aircraft program by adding seven more Boeing MQ‑28A Ghost Bat drones, a AUS $754 million investment that brings the fleet toward ten operational units by 2028. The RAAF already operates eight Block 1 aircraft and is testing...
The F-15E Crew that Pulled 10.5g to Evade Iraqi SAMs and Other Operation Desert Storm Eagle’s Tales
During Operation Desert Storm, F‑15E Strike Eagle crews faced intense Iraqi SAM fire, with some missions encountering up to 17 SA‑2 and SA‑3 missiles. To survive, pilots jettisoned fuel tanks, expelled most of their chaff, and performed extreme evasive maneuvers...
New US Senate Proposed Legislation “Will Speed FAA Certification of US eVTOLs”
A bipartisan group of nine U.S. senators will introduce the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act to streamline the FAA's type‑certification process for advanced air mobility aircraft, including eVTOLs. The bill mandates transparent timelines, updated delegation guidance for novel technologies,...
Wisk Envisions Autonomous, Accessible Electric VTOL Air Taxis
Re-up! Autonomous and accessible - Wisk's vision for future electric VTOL air taxis #avgeek #Boeing #eVTOL #Wisk https://t.co/tpZctOS8e0
![USAFE-AFAFRICA Welcomes Bundeswehr Joint Forces Command [Image 2 of 2]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2602/9523592/250w_q95.jpg)
USAFE-AFAFRICA Welcomes Bundeswehr Joint Forces Command [Image 2 of 2]
On 3 February 2026, USAFE‑AFAFRICA hosted the Bundeswehr Joint Forces Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The delegation met with Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds and senior USAFE‑AFAFRICA officials to review U.S. counter‑small unmanned aircraft systems (C‑sUAS) and integrated air‑and‑missile‑defense (IAMD)...
First Scheduled Helicopter Service Ticket Unearthed From 1950
Cool bit of aviation history discovered by RAeS Librarian in our archives - ticket for world's first scheduled helicopter passenger service, between Liverpool/Cardiff/Liverpool - 1950! #avgeek https://t.co/59ZlxZSTDN https://t.co/Bb7fjvMQS7
Finavia Launches 2026–2028 Sustainability Programme to Strengthen Value Creation
Finavia unveiled its 2026‑2028 sustainability programme, expanding its climate, nature, people and governance framework to cut emissions across the entire aviation value chain. Seventeen of its twenty airports have already achieved net‑zero operational emissions, and the new plan intensifies work...
Export Controls on Artificial Intelligence and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
The report examines how the United States and China are racing to dominate artificial intelligence (AI) and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), highlighting a widening technology gap in the U.S. defense industrial base. It finds that current export‑control regimes—EAR, ITAR, and...
RCV Engines Secures £4 Million European Deal & Bolsters UK Manufacturing
RCV Engines has secured a £4 million supply agreement with a European partner to deliver its mission‑critical propulsion systems. The contract was awarded after a competitive evaluation, highlighting the company’s 4‑stroke rotary valve engines that can run on heavy fuels such...
Leonardo Funding Development of Earth Observation Constellation
Leonardo is investing roughly €500 million to develop a 20‑satellite Earth observation constellation slated for launch in 2027‑28. The system will combine high‑resolution optical, synthetic‑aperture radar and communications payloads, built by Thales Alenia Space using its NIMBUS modular bus. The project...
Sateliot Selects PLD Space to Launch Two 5G Direct-to-Device Satellites
Sateliot has signed a launch services agreement with Spanish launch provider PLD Space to fly its first two high‑capacity 5G Direct‑to‑Device (D2D) Tritó satellites on a dedicated MIURA 5 mission in 2027. Each Tritó payload weighs roughly 160 kg and will enable...
Orbital Paradigm: Ill-Fated PSLV’s 4th Stage Ignited. KID Taught Us A Ton
India’s PSLV‑C62 suffered a third‑stage anomaly, yet its fourth stage ignited while the vehicle was already descending. Spanish firm Orbital Paradigm’s KID demonstrator survived the uncontrolled re‑entry, separated, and transmitted telemetry back to Earth. The post‑flight report reveals that intense...
DSK 2026 Set to Showcase AI & Autonomous Defense Systems
The 2026 Drone Show Korea (DSK) opens Feb. 25 in Busan, covering 26,508 m² with 318 companies from 23 nations. The event’s AI‑centric theme showcases autonomous, manned‑unmanned combat systems, with dedicated Army, Navy and Air Force pavilions. Major players such as...
Protecting Stadiums in the Age of Drone Incursions: Melissa Swisher, CRO at SkySafe
In this episode, Melissa Swisher, CRO of SkySafe, explains how airspace intelligence is evolving to protect large venues like stadiums from unauthorized drones. She highlights the biggest gaps in current drone defense—lack of real‑time detection, attribution, and actionable analytics—and how...
British Airways Passenger Reveals The Clever Way He Won Compensation Despite An ‘Extraordinary Circumstance’
A British Airways passenger successfully claimed £520 compensation after the airline cited a tropical storm in Nassau as an “extraordinary circumstance” to deny liability. The passenger appealed to an independent arbitrator, who ruled that BA had not demonstrated that it...
From Pluto to Pharmaceuticals
In this brief episode, the host explains how NASA employs spectroscopy to decode the composition of planets and their atmospheres, from distant bodies like Pluto to potential applications in drug discovery. By examining how light interacts with matter, scientists can...
The PRSC-EO2 Milestone: How Pakistan’s Latest Satellite Completes a High-Res ‘Sensor Triad’
Pakistan's SUPARCO launched its second earth‑observation satellite, PRSC‑EO2, on 12 February aboard China’s Smart Dragon‑3 rocket. Three days later it activated Pak‑SBAS, a satellite‑based augmentation system that leverages China’s BeiDou GNSS for higher‑precision positioning. Together the high‑resolution imaging payload and the...
Year In Orbit Physically Shifts The Human Brain, Scientists Warn
New MRI analysis of 26 astronauts shows the brain moves upward and backward inside the skull after spaceflight, with shifts exceeding two millimetres in year‑long missions. Researchers mapped over 100 brain regions, revealing that displacement scales with mission length and...
Air Canada Cancels Seasonal Flights Between Montreal & Seattle 2 Months Before Resumption
Air Canada has scrapped its planned seasonal nonstop service between Montreal‑Trudeau and Seattle‑Tacoma, originally slated to launch on May 1, 2026 and run through October 13, 2026. The route would have featured daily Airbus A220‑300 flights, offering roughly 3,700 seats...
The Rise of the “Central” Bloc? How Türkiye and Saudi Arabia May Build a New Third Channel for Global Defence...
Turkey and Saudi Arabia concluded a series of defence‑industrial accords in February 2026, covering a fifth‑generation fighter, a utility helicopter, and unmanned naval platforms. The agreements were sealed during President Erdoğan’s Riyadh visit and include a joint KAAN fighter investment...
Hunting Cosmic Ghosts From the Edge of Space
University of Chicago’s PUEO experiment launched from Antarctica on Dec 20, 2024, spending 23 days at 120,000 feet searching for ultra‑high‑energy neutrinos. The payload carried 96 radio antennas and a sophisticated onboard processor to capture faint radio bursts generated when...
Delta Air Lines To Boost Airbus A350-900 Frequencies Between Los Angeles & Melbourne
Delta Air Lines is accelerating its non‑stop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Melbourne, moving from three weekly flights to a daily schedule by December 22, 2026. The airline introduced the route only three months ago, and rapid uptake has...
Russia Seeks Private Sector Aid for Airport Reconstruction After Booting Out Foreign Companies
Russia is courting domestic private investors to rebuild a third of its regional airports after expelling foreign operators such as Germany’s Fraport. The government has earmarked roughly $2.5 billion for the effort, betting on a 50% rise in passenger traffic over...
Considering Soviet Space History Over Modern
I now have quite a collection of messages like the one below, so the only solution I see is shifting my focus from today's Russia to the Soviet space history, but I am open to other suggestions and, of course,...
70% of Boom Engine Parts Completed
Fun fact: 70% of the parts for the first Boom-made engine are finished and delivered. This is a stage 5 HPC blisk, one of the ~30% still being fabricated. https://t.co/NwmqU7HOAk
Southwest Airlines to Launch Free Starlink Wi-Fi This Summer — Here’s the Rollout Timeline
Southwest Airlines announced it will upgrade its in‑flight connectivity by installing Starlink satellite internet on its fleet, beginning this summer. The airline already provides free, unlimited Wi‑Fi to Rapid Rewards members via T‑Mobile on more than 800 aircraft. Southwest plans...
F-16 Scramble Finds Balloons, Not UFOs Over Nevada
F-16s Find Balloons, Not UFOs, After Sunday Scramble: NORAD Alert F-16s out of California scrambled to hunt down mysterious targets over Nevada and California twice on Sunday. Story: https://t.co/oQhqC5oK7H
Firefly Returns to Flight with ‘Stairway to Seven’
Firefly Aerospace is set to launch the seventh flight of its Alpha small‑lift rocket, dubbed “Stairway to Seven,” on Feb 20 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West. The mission marks the final flight of the Block 1 configuration and will test Block 2 avionics...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Aircraft Engine MRO
Aircraft jet engines are increasingly being repurposed to generate power for AI data centers, creating a new demand stream beyond aviation. Simultaneously, the industry faces a shortage of new engines and spare parts due to reliability issues with Pratt &...