Today's Aerospace Pulse
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes, halting Moon‑base plans
A catastrophic explosion during a static‑fire test destroyed New Glenn’s sole launch pad (LC‑36) and will delay flights for months. The setback jeopardizes NASA’s Moon Base 1 lander and the scheduled 2026 launch of Amazon’s Leo broadband satellite constellation. No injuries were reported.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Disciplined Growth Acquisition Corp raises $150M in IPO
Explosive‑Laden Drone Found Off Greek Coast Triggers Defense Probe
Greece’s defence ministry launched a formal inquiry after a drone packed with roughly 100 kg of explosives washed ashore near Lefkada. Minister Nikos Dendias said the device likely originated from a foreign state, with experts pointing to a Ukrainian‑made Magura V3 model. The find has ignited political backlash and heightened NATO worries about maritime safety in the Aegean.
Skyports Launches Daily Drone Delivery Across NYC’s East River for Medical Supplies
British firm Skyports has started daily weekday drone trips across New York City’s East River, ferrying light medical paperwork for an unnamed health‑care system. The pilot, run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the NYC Economic...
Study Finds Seven Venus Probes May Still Lurk Beneath Harsh Surface
Space archaeologists have published a paper indicating that out of 20 probes sent to Venus, at least seven may still be intact on the surface. The finding, based on lab simulations of Venusian conditions, could influence future mission designs and...
SpaceX Starship Flight 12 Wet Rehearsal
SpaceX is conducting its second Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) for the Flight 12 full‑stack vehicle, pairing Booster 19 with Ship 39. The rehearsal follows a static‑fire test of Booster 19 performed four days earlier. A successful WDR would demonstrate integrated systems readiness ahead of...
AICRAFT Expands Beyond Edge Computing with Advanced SAR Radar Electronics
Australian AI firm AICRAFT has secured Manufacturing Growth Accelerator funding to develop a low‑power front‑end electronics suite for synthetic‑aperture radar (SAR) payloads. Working with Flinders University and Indian antenna maker Guerin Technologies, the project integrates a custom analogue‑to‑digital converter with...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Frank M. Salzgeber, Nadir Space Venture
Frank M. Salzgeber, co‑founder of Nadir Space Venture, highlighted at SmallSat Europe how Europe’s mature small‑sat manufacturing base can meet the Gulf’s rapidly expanding demand. He noted Saudi Arabia’s space economy, now $8.7 billion, is projected to reach $31.6 billion by 2035,...
Skylo Seeks FCC Approval for Big D2D Device Expansion
Skylo, Verizon’s direct‑to‑device partner, has filed an FCC request to increase its authorized satellite device limits from roughly 1‑6 million per band to 10 million, 10 million and 50 million units across the ANT‑1, ANT‑2 and ANT‑3 categories. The company already supports 16 million devices...
ATVA Urges FCC to Close “Affiliation-Swap” Loopholes Impacting Satellite Operators
On May 11, 2026 the American Television Alliance filed a petition with the FCC demanding an end to “affiliation‑swap” loopholes that let broadcasters sidestep ownership limits. The filing details a scheme where a broadcaster first acquires a network’s programming rights,...
Sting Ray Mod 1 Torpedo Poised to Start First P-8A Flight Trials
BAE Systems confirmed that the Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo will begin air‑carriage and jettison trials on a U.S. Navy P‑8A Poseidon in Q3 2026, marking the final integration step for the RAF’s nine‑aircraft fleet. The trials, conducted at Naval Air...
Telia Lets 5G Fly on Kelluu Airship
Finnish airship operator Kelluu, in partnership with Telia, demonstrated secure 5G connectivity from a hydrogen‑powered airship using a Nokia Kolibri small‑cell on the 3.5 GHz band. The low‑altitude platform, operating between 120 m and 1,000 m, can cover up to 30,000 km² with five...
Indonesia Strengthens Turkish Defence Ties with Kizilelma Drone Order
Indonesia has signed a deal for 12 Bayraktar Kizilelma unmanned aerial vehicles, with options for an additional 48, creating up to five drone squadrons. The agreement, signed with Baykar and local partner Republikorp, includes domestic production and a maintenance centre,...
MDA Space Officially Opens New Montreal Facility to Support Satellite Prime Contractor Strategy
MDA Space has opened a 185,000‑square‑foot satellite manufacturing plant in Montreal, doubling its production footprint. The facility is designed for high‑volume assembly of the AURORA software‑defined satellites, targeting up to 400 units per year. Automated equipment and a proprietary test...
US Innovator Crosses The Bridge From Powdered Milk To SAF
Syzygy Plasmonics, a Texas startup, has unveiled a light‑driven Rigel bioreactor that turns landfill, dairy and wastewater biogas into drop‑in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) without high‑temperature reforming. The company’s first plant, NovaSAF‑1 in Uruguay, secured a six‑year, full‑volume offtake with...
Six U.S. F-16 Pilots Honored with Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroic Role in Operation Midnight Hammer
The U.S. Air Force awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross to six pilots of the 55th Fighter Squadron for their heroic actions during Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strike that helped end a 12‑day Iran‑Israel conflict. The award, presented by...
Rolls-Royce, easyJet Complete Successful 100% H2 Aeroengine Test for Future Narrowbodies
Rolls‑Royce and easyJet have completed the first full‑power test of a modified Pearl 15 turbofan running on 100% hydrogen at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The engine achieved takeoff thrust and completed a simulated flight cycle—including startup, cruise and landing—demonstrating hydrogen can...
Bombardier Displays Global 8000 at Trade Show for First Time
Bombardier unveiled its flagship Global 8000 at the Catarina Aviation Show in São Paulo, Brazil, marking the jet's first public appearance in Latin America. The ultra‑long‑range aircraft boasts a Mach 0.95 cruise speed and an 8,000 nm (14,800 km) range, enabling nonstop flights to destinations...
Testing the A350F’s Cargo Loading and Main Deck Door Actuation Systems
Airbus is advancing the A350F freighter by testing its all‑electric main‑deck cargo door and cargo‑loading system on large‑scale rigs in Bremen. The 20‑tonne "Cargo Zero" demonstrator replicates the 170‑inch door and a full‑scale cargo hold, allowing repeated opening, closing, and load‑handling...
China Space Station: Docking of New Supply Ship
China’s Tianzhou‑10 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong space station on May 11, after Tianzhou‑9 departed. The uncrewed vehicle delivered nearly 6.2 tons of supplies, including food, water, 700 kg of propellant, a new space treadmill, and three upgraded extravehicular activity...
Starship V3 Booster Roars to Life in Major SpaceX Test
SpaceX performed a full‑duration static fire of the Starship V3 Super Heavy booster, igniting all 33 Raptor engines on its Texas launch pad. The test, lasting about six seconds, demonstrated the integrated propulsion system’s performance and confirmed that the vehicle’s...
Solar Impulse 2, Famous for Around-the-World Flight, Crashes Into Gulf Waters
Solar Impulse 2, the solar‑powered aircraft that completed a historic 2016 circumnavigation, crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off Mississippi on May 4, 2026. The aircraft, owned by Skydweller Aero since 2019, had been converted into an unmanned test platform for long‑endurance surveillance...
UPCOMING: From Perk to Platform: How In-Flight Connectivity Is Rewriting Aviation Economics
In‑flight connectivity has moved from a passenger perk to a core aircraft asset, now embedded in new‑fleet specifications and reflected in lease rates and residual values. Multi‑orbit architectures that blend LEO, MEO and GEO satellites are becoming the industry baseline...
Air Europa Is the Latest Airline to Join JFK’s New Terminal One
Air Europa announced it will move its New York operations from Terminal 4 to the new Terminal One at JFK, joining a growing roster of international carriers. The airline will continue its daily nonstop service between Madrid and JFK, leveraging the modern...
Magellan Jets Launches World Cup Jet Card
Boston‑based Magellan Jets unveiled the World’s Game Jet Card, a $500,000 private‑jet package for groups attending FIFA World Cup matches in six eastern U.S. and Canadian cities. The card provides round‑trip flights on a Bombardier Challenger 300 for up to eight...
What Happens To Spirit Airlines’ Planes Now That It’s Gone?
Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations, leaving its 172‑aircraft fleet in limbo. Most planes are stored at Phoenix Goodyear Airport while lessors reclaim leased jets for resale or transfer. The airline’s bankruptcy will see aircraft inspected, refurbished and potentially repainted for...
No More Air France-KLM: Group To Scrap 22-Year-Old Name Amid SAS & TAP Moves
Air France‑KLM will abandon its historic name as it moves to acquire a majority stake in SAS and seeks a minority position in TAP Air Portugal. The rebrand mirrors IAG’s neutral branding and aims to simplify the group’s identity ahead...
Japan Deploys $2,000 Cardboard Combat Drones for Frontline Use
Japan’s defense minister Shinjirō Koizumi announced the deployment of AirKamuy 150 drones, fixed‑wing combat units built largely from corrugated cardboard and priced at $2,000‑$2,500. The Japan Maritime Self‑Defense Force is already using them as targets, marking a shift toward ultra‑low‑cost,...
Airtel Africa Partners with SpaceX to Roll Out Starlink Direct‑to‑Cell Across 14 Markets
Airtel Africa announced a partnership with SpaceX to deploy Starlink Direct‑to‑Cell satellite connectivity across its 14‑country footprint. The move, timed with a $44 million Nairobi data‑centre build‑out, aims to extend broadband to underserved areas and intensify competition with Safaricom.
Can Pan Am Bring The Glory Days Of Aviation Back To The Skies?
Pan American World Airways is staging a comeback by deploying an AI‑driven operating model called AIR‑OS, developed with San Francisco‑based GeoSpatios. The platform unifies flight planning, crew scheduling, weather, and airspace data to enable real‑time decision‑making. Pan Am is currently seeking FAA...
Cowboy Raises $275 Million to Build Rockets with Orbital Data Center Upper Stages
Cowboy Space, the former Aetherflux, closed a $275 million Series B round at a $2 billion valuation, bringing its total funding to roughly $365 million. The startup plans to build launch vehicles whose upper stages transform into orbital data‑center nodes, targeting AI‑intensive compute in...
Aetherflux Rebrands, Pivots Business—And Raises $275M
Aetherflux has rebranded as Cowboy Space Corporation and closed a $275 million Series B round at a $2 billion valuation. The company is pivoting from a sole focus on a solar‑power small‑sat constellation to a dual strategy that adds a dedicated launch vehicle...
Diehl Aviation Reports Strong Progress at New Production Facility in Romania
Diehl Aviation announced that its new production facility in Craiova, Romania, will move in during summer 2026, with full aircraft‑component production slated for autumn 2026. The plant will start with about 75 employees and scale up to 500 as output...
SOCOM Taps SkyFi to Build Tactical EO Imagery Tools
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has selected commercial EO provider SkyFi to build a prototype sovereign intelligence platform that streamlines access to geospatial imagery for troops. The Phase 1 effort includes an Android Tactical Assault Kit plug‑in that lets operators task...
May 11, 1949: A Missile Range at Cape Canaveral
On May 11, 1949 President Harry Truman signed Public Law 60, establishing a joint Army‑Navy‑Air Force missile‑testing range at Cape Canaveral. The site’s Atlantic flight path, year‑round weather, and equatorial boost made it ideal for long‑range rockets. Early programs such as Redstone and Atlas...
Boeing Leverages Trump Trip to Secure Massive China Order
Would keep any eye on $BA this week Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg is going with Trump to China this week. This trip is particularly significant for Boeing, as Ortberg has publicly noted that the company is relying on the Trump...
Failing to Pass a Defense Budget Is a Self-Inflicted Wound in the Space Race
The White House budget proposes a historic $70 billion allocation for the U.S. Space Force, more than doubling its current $40 billion funding. A continuing resolution (CR), however, would slash the budget back to roughly $28 billion, halting new programs and capping hiring....
Moonfall Mission Deploys Four Ingenuity‑Based Drones to Lunar South Pole
Got out on a new mission and just have to share how cool of a name it is: Moonfall Not only does it sound like a movie (I think it actually was), but the mission will send 4 drones to explore...
First Hydrogen Helicopter Just Proved It Can Fly a Real Mission
A modified Robinson R44, retrofitted by Unither Bioélectronique, completed the first full‑mission flight powered by hydrogen fuel cells, proving take‑off, climb, pattern, approach and landing under real‑world conditions. The system delivered roughly 178 kW, with more than 90% of that power...
'Irresponsible Growth': Emissions From European Flights Rose Above Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2025
European flight emissions rose 2 percent in 2025, surpassing 2019 levels for the first time since the pandemic. The increase was driven primarily by low‑cost carriers, whose aggressive capacity growth offset earlier emissions reductions. Ryanair’s global emissions are now 50 percent higher...
French Navy Welcomes First of Three PC-24 Aircraft
Jet Aviation delivered the first of three Pilatus PC‑24 Super Versatile Jets to the French Navy under a contract with the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique. The agreement combines aircraft purchase, leasing and sustainment into a single support package, with...
Malaysia Airlines Maintains Focus on Operational Consistency
Malaysia Airlines reported on-time performance (OTP) above 90% for April, marking the second consecutive month it exceeded its 85% target. Passenger traffic rose 30% year‑on‑year in March and continued with an 8% YoY increase in April, indicating strong demand across...
Malaysia Airlines Flight Bursts Tyre at Hong Kong Airport; No Injuries Reported
On May 11, 2026, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH79 aborted take‑off at Hong Kong International Airport after a tyre burst during deceleration, veering onto a taxiway. The aircraft was safely stopped and towed, with no injuries reported among passengers or crew....
Third‑party Handlers, Not Airlines, Cause Delay Chaos
AirAsia X D7-331 PVG→KUL just got delayed 49 hours The terminal is absolute chaos... people packed like sardines, phones out, chanting at the top of their lungs. Here’s the part nobody wants to hear: the ground staff getting yelled at?...
NASA Pushes Starliner-1 Cargo Demo to 2027
In news that should shock no one, NASA has moved the "Starliner-1" mission from June 2026 on its internal calendar to "under review." This is an uncrewed cargo demonstration flight. Since we've heard very little about this, a slip into...
Airline Chastises Passenger, Then Denies Essential Baby Supplies
Frontier Scolded Passenger For Leaving Bags Behind During Evacuation — Then They Had To Fight For Diapers And Formula - View from the Wing https://t.co/65rAKxSDbK
Senate Advances Matt Anderson’s NASA Deputy Confirmation
The Senate will take another procedural step today towards confirming Matt Anderson as Deputy NASA Administrator as part of an "en bloc" group of 49 in S. Res. 690. For anyone interested, CRS has a report explaining the current Senate...
Permits Lag, but Boom Builds at Lightning Speed
Building permits are frustratingly slow—but once we have permission to build, the Boom team builds super rapidly. https://t.co/KQxo7mGHLY
NASA Details SpaceX CRS‑34 Cargo Launch to ISS
NASA's put out a nice summary of what SpaceX's CRS-34 cargo mission is taking to the ISS tomorrow. https://t.co/YPECspDVeR The media telecon should start in about 5 min at 11:00 am ET. Watch on YouTube: https://t.co/ib8KupXD5L
IFC Stakeholders Embrace Multi‑Vendor Model for Least‑Cost Routing
A growing number of inflight connectivity stakeholders are prepared to flexibly support a multi-vendor environment in commercial aviation should airlines decide to follow the cruise industry and pursue a ‘least cost routing’ approach to powering IFC. https://t.co/fq67tAa5C1
Cost Optimism and Capacity Pessimism Widen Satellite Service Gap
This is too optimistic about AST cost per satellite and too pessimistic about Starlink V2 capacity per satellite, which makes the disparity even greater. And we still don't know if there will actually be sufficient demand to pay for D2D...
AA's Premium Push Stumbles on Indifferent Cabin Crew
American Airlines Wants To Be Premium — But Flight Attendants Won’t Even Say Hello - View from the Wing https://t.co/pn3fDcUh8Z