Today's Aerospace Pulse
SpaceX IPO Valuation Hits $2 Trillion, Making Musk First Trillionaire
SpaceX went public on June 12, 2026, launching the largest IPO in history with a $2 trillion market valuation and turning founder Elon Musk into the world’s first trillion‑dollar individual. The offering priced shares at $135, closing at $160.95, and reflects a portfolio that now spans hundreds of orbital launches, the dominant Starlink broadband constellation, and expanding AI and social‑media ventures.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Eaton merges mobility business with Dana in $10B deal
Delta Just Gave Employees $1.3 Billion in Bonuses Plus Announced Raises—While American and United Workers Get Left Behind
Delta Air Lines paid $1.3 billion in profit sharing, roughly 8.9 % of an employee’s salary, and announced a wage increase for its workforce. This marks the ninth year the carrier has exceeded $1 billion in profit‑sharing payouts, outpacing the combined totals of all other U.S. airlines. The payout follows a pattern of annual bonuses, operational rewards and education incentives, contrasting sharply with stagnant or amendable contracts at American and United. Delta’s compensation strategy underscores its focus on employee performance and retention.
EFW Signs New A330 Freighter Conversion Contract with Hengqin Winglet
Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) has secured a new passenger‑to‑freighter (P2F) conversion contract with Chinese lessor Hengqin Winglet Aircraft Technology. The A330‑P2F conversion will be performed at a partner facility in China, with work slated to begin in mid‑2026 and technical support...
Falcon 9 Booster B1101 Achieves First RTLS Landing
SpaceX's Falcon9 Booster B1101 successfully completes first Return To Launch Site, RTLS, landing at LC-40 at CCSFS, FL. 📷by @rpg571 https://t.co/uKq0saMaYW
Join the Team Building the First Independent Supersonic Engine
It’s not too late to be one of the fine men and women building the first independently developed supersonic jet engine. We are hiring a handful of R&D technicians and manufacturing engineers. If you want to work hard, have fun,...
Axiom Space Raises $350M to Fuel Station, Suit Development
Axiom Space announced a $350 million capital raise, co‑led by Type One Ventures and Qatar Investment Authority, to accelerate its commercial space‑station program and the development of NASA‑contracted AxEMU spacesuits. The funding will finance the design, testing and launch of two...
All‑Economy Planes Won’t Halve Aviation Emissions, Warns Expert
If we made every airliner all-economy - could that slash aviation's emissions by 50%? Not so fast, argues RAeS Head of Research Naomi Allen, who warns against 'easy wins' to sustainability #avgeek https://t.co/tOVFLw7vLK https://t.co/bNd4bey0XQ
Turkish Airlines Unveils Its 500th Aircraft Featuring a Special Livery of 100,000 Employees
Turkish Airlines unveiled its 500th aircraft, dubbed “TK Family,” featuring a special livery that showcases photographs of its 100,000 employees and retirees. The ceremony at Istanbul Airport included children of martyrs, senior executives and a ceremonial flight that traced the...
UK Spends over £400 Million on Long-Range Weapons as Cooperation Scales up with European Allies
The United Kingdom has earmarked more than £400 million this year for long‑range precision and hypersonic weapons, expanding joint programmes with France, Italy and Germany. The Stratus missile project, which replaces the Storm Shadow, already sustains over 1,300 highly‑skilled jobs in...
Chad's Royal Airways Eyes Subsidiary in Cameroon
Royal Airways, Chad's emerging carrier, announced plans to launch a subsidiary in Cameroon, marking its first foray beyond national borders. The move targets the Central African market, leveraging the airline's existing ATR42‑300 fleet for regional routes. International operations are projected...
Direct-to-Device Connectivity Set to Underpin Next Generation of Industrial IoT
Viasat’s latest survey of 600 IoT decision‑makers across agriculture, energy, transport, mining and utilities finds direct‑to‑device (D2D) connectivity is poised for mass adoption within 18 months. Ninety percent of respondents say D2D will accelerate the global rollout of industrial IoT,...
Hypersonic Missiles Development Accelerated by New Contract
The UK Ministry of Defence has granted a £12 million contract to Amentum UK, supported by SMEs Ebeni and Synthetik, to design and flight‑test a sovereign hypersonic missile system. The award, part of a broader £48 million investment since July 2024, was secured...
United’s A350 Order In Peril Amid Rolls-Royce Legal Battle
United Airlines has removed the Airbus A350‑900 from its fleet plans after a legal dispute with Rolls‑Royce, the aircraft's sole engine supplier. The airline originally ordered 45 A350‑900s in 2009, deferred deliveries to 2027, and now faces uncertainty over the...
Forget Cloud: Istari Unveils “Ground,” A New Data Sharing Infrastructure Tailored for Aerospace
Istari Digital unveiled "Ground," a new data‑sharing protocol that lets aerospace and defense firms keep information behind their own firewalls while still enabling global collaboration. The platform replaces the traditional cloud model with a shareable, auditable connection layer that embeds...
Nigeria's Fly Elite Adds First Bombardier Aircraft
Fly Elite, a Lagos‑based aircraft management specialist, has added its first Bombardier Challenger 604 to its fleet, marking the company’s entry into the larger business‑jet segment. The 2004‑built jet, configured for up to ten passengers, completed its inaugural flight on 10 February,...
Avinor Trials Multiple Operations at Remote Tower Centre in Bodø
Avinor has launched a trial at its Remote Tower Centre in Bodø that lets a single AFIS representative manage multiple airports from one workstation. The pilot covers four airport pairs – Rørvik‑Namsos, Mehamn‑Hasvik, Vardø‑Berlevåg and Røst‑Svolvær – and operates under...
AirX Receives Approval to Operate in Saudi Arabia
AirX has secured approval from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation under the Part 129 framework, allowing the Malta‑based private jet operator to expand its charter services within the Kingdom. The company currently operates a fleet of 21 aircraft, including...
Aviramp Secures New Irish Contract
Aviramp has installed a solar‑powered, step‑free boarding ramp at Ireland West Airport in Knock. The ramp offers a gentle slope, added passenger shelter, and is designed for wheelchair users, parents with prams and other travelers with reduced mobility. Airport operations...
ESA Astronaut Sophie Adenot Launches Aboard SpaceX Crew-12 Mission
French Air Force colonel Sophie Adenot became the first member of ESA’s 2022 career astronaut class to launch to the International Space Station, riding SpaceX’s Crew‑12 mission on 13 February 2026. The Falcon 9‑launched Crew Dragon will dock with the ISS...
The Bristol Beaufighter TF.X: The Definitive WWII Torpedo-Fighter Variant of the British “Torbeau”
In 1941 RAF Coastal Command introduced the Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, the definitive torpedo‑fighter derived from the Beaufort bomber’s wing and tail assemblies. The TF.X replaced the interim Mk VIC “Torbeau” with 60 conversions and featured the low‑level Hercules XVII engines, a torpedo...
Falcon‑9/Dragon Launches First 2026 ISS Crew
Falcon-9/Dragon lifts off from Cape Canaveral carrying the first International Space Station crew of 2026 (USCV-12). It is 303rd mission of the ISS poject: https://t.co/z0hQPyE0Zn https://t.co/113UjWl1F5
SpiceJet Q3 Loss Shrinks Despite Fleet, Rupee Woes
SpiceJet reported a Q3 FY26 net loss of Rs 2.68 billion, down from Rs 6.35 billion in Q2, as revenue jumped 77% to Rs 13.84 billion. The improvement came despite higher aviation turbine fuel prices, a weakening rupee and the loss of Pakistani airspace, which inflated...
British Airways Quietly Appoints New Head Of Customer Experience And Boy Does She Have Her Work Cut Out
British Airways has quietly installed former Lufthansa executive Victoria Schuster as its new Director of Customer Experience, succeeding Calum Laming who is set to depart. Schuster joins after a rapid rise at Lufthansa, most recently serving as VP of customer...
Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport Redevelops Arrivals Area
Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport is modernising its decades‑old arrivals area, with construction slated for completion in spring 2026. The project expands the arrivals lobby, upgrades the customs corridor and adds new service counters for car‑rental firms. Retail space is being enlarged,...
Eutelsat “on Track”, LEO Revenues up 60%
Eutelsat’s mid‑year update highlighted a 60% surge in LEO (OneWeb) revenue, now accounting for more than one‑third of its Connectivity earnings. Overall revenue slipped to €574 million, while the Video division fell 12.3% amid continued Russian sanctions. Fixed Connectivity, Government services...
Sunlight Converts Lunar Regolith Into Usable Oxygen
Sunlight Extracts Oxygen From Regolith Using Solar Chemistry https://t.co/7D6ySKDwz4 A solar concentrator is tested as part of the Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) project, which aims to produce oxygen from simulated lunar regolith for use a… https://t.co/oJ9ElSXJi0
Emirates Expands China Reach Through Loong Air Interline Deal as Gulf–China Competition Intensifies
Emirates has signed an interline agreement with Hangzhou‑based Loong Air, instantly adding 22 Chinese domestic destinations to its network. The deal lets passengers book single‑ticket itineraries with coordinated baggage and fare rules, extending Emirates’ reach into secondary cities such as...
Vulcan Centaur Reaches Orbit Despite Booster Glitch
LAUNCH at 0922 UTC Feb 12 of a Vulcan Centaur from Canaveral with the Space Force's GSSAP 7 and 8 satellites, and possibly other payloads. One of the GEM 63XL solid boosters malfunctioned but the vehicle was reportedly able to reach...
Two Feb 12 Launches Deploy Seven Satellites and a Weather Probe
LAUNCH at 0637 UTC Feb 12 of a Jielong-3 from the DFHT ship off Yangjiang, placing seven sats in orbit including Pakistan's PRSC-EO2 imaging sat. LAUNCH at 0852 UTC Feb 12 of a Proton from Baykonur with the Elektro-L weather sat.
Emirates Is Being Thrown Out Of Algeria As Diplomatic Ties Between Algiers And Abu Dhabi Worsen
Algeria has begun the formal process of terminating its air services agreement with the United Arab Emirates, effectively expelling Emirates from the market. The move follows a deterioration in diplomatic ties, driven by accusations that the UAE fuels regional discord...
Revenue Management & Variable Crew Rostering
The episode explores how airline cabin crew management—covering planning, rostering, tracking, reporting, logbooks, change management, and route bidding—could be enhanced by integrating real‑time revenue management (RM) forecasts. It argues that using RM demand and revenue predictions would allow airlines to...
After 7 Year Delay, Indian MoD Clears 6 Additional P-8I Aircraft
The Indian Ministry of Defence cleared the purchase of six additional Boeing P‑8I maritime reconnaissance and anti‑submarine aircraft during the Defence Acquisition Council meeting on Feb 12, ending a seven‑year delay. The new aircraft will augment the Navy’s existing fleet of...
Sunhillo to Provide Surveillance Data Fusion for MICH-AIR BVLOS System
Sunhillo Corporation has joined ResilienX’s MICH‑AIR BVLOS program as a key team member, providing surveillance data acquisition, distribution, and fusion. The company will deploy its cloud‑based SureLine software with a multi‑track fuser to merge radar, ADS‑B, and Remote ID inputs,...
AirAsia X Is Returning to London with Kuala Lumpur Flights
AirAsia X will resume London Gatwick service with daily flights from Kuala Lumpur starting 26 June, routing through its new Bahrain hub. The airline will operate Airbus A330 aircraft offering a Premium Flatbed product that sits between economy and traditional business class....
Space Systems Command Confirms Two GSSAPs on USSF‑87
Space Systems Command says there were two GSSAPs on USSF-87. This is their response to my question on the matter last month. https://t.co/IqQ6LR4m9P
GE Aerospace Deploys Robots and Lean to Speed Repairs
GE Aerospace turns to robots and 'Lean' methods to tackle jet engine repair crunch https://t.co/0co9XBDhpz
Better Satellite World: The State of Space in the State
The episode reviews the current landscape of New York’s space and satellite industry, anchored by Empire Space’s data-driven census and ecosystem mapping. Guests discuss how the state’s regulatory environment, talent pool, and funding ecosystem are shaping growth, with insights from Patterson...
Pentagon to Restock Massive Ordnance Penetrator Bombs Dropped by B-2s on Iran
The Pentagon is finalizing a more than $100 million contract with Boeing to replenish the GBU‑57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs expended during Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites. The acquisition will be the final batch of...
Laser Weapon Airspace Closure Highlights Drone Policy Lag
Airspace Closure Over Laser Weapon Use A Glaring Example Of Drone Defense Policy Struggles After years of putting off the drone threat, the U.S. government is trying to do something about it, but policy is struggling to catch up. Story: https://t.co/VBGe87B1Ik
Air Force Denies Receiving Radar‑less F‑35s, JPO Stays Silent
Air Force Now Denies Receiving F-35s Without Radars The F-35 Joint Program Office had declined just earlier this week to confirm or deny a report that jets without radars were being delivered. https://t.co/HJUpX0g3Yl
JetBlue Plays to Its Strength in Fort Lauderdale After Spirit Shrinks in South Florida
JetBlue is rapidly expanding its presence at Fort Lauderdale‑Hollywood International Airport as Spirit Airlines enters a second Chapter 11 filing, shrinking its South Florida operations. The Florida hub, once Spirit’s growth engine, now offers JetBlue valuable slots and gate capacity. Airport...
Video of the Week: Aviation's Digital Inflection Point – From AI Hype to Operational Reality
The aviation industry is moving beyond hype as AI, cloud, biometrics and automation begin to deliver operational gains. Recent pilots in generative AI for disruption management, biometric boarding and dynamic retailing have shown tangible efficiency improvements. However, entrenched legacy systems,...
Video of the Week: Aviation's Digital Inflection Point – From AI Hype to Operational Reality
Airlines are moving beyond hype to embed AI, biometrics and cloud tools into daily operations, yet success hinges on leadership, data integration and talent. Recent pilots in disruption management, biometric boarding and dynamic retail have shown measurable efficiency gains. Persistent...
ULA Encounters New Issue Despite Earlier Fix
Interesting situation for ULA. Not great to see after the previous issue that we thought was fixed.
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Senate Cmrc approved the SAT Streamlining bill after RM Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Chr Ted Cruz (R-TX) reached agreement over "deemed granted" prvsn that originally meant FCC had 18 months to rule on a satellite appl or it wld be...
Vulcan, Ariane 64 Blast Off
On Thursday, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket lifted off from Florida carrying the USSF‑87 payload to geosynchronous orbit, marking its second National Security Space Launch mission. The launch suffered a significant performance anomaly in one of its four solid rocket...
Vast Secures First ISS Private Astronaut
Vast just won its first private astronaut mission (PAM) to the ISS. Will be the 6th PAM. (Axiom's done 4 and got contract for the 5th last month.) https://t.co/wMfSkzsZTU NASA Admin Isaacman's own private astronaut missions, Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn, didn't visit...
NASA Chooses Vast for First Non‑Axiom Private ISS Mission
NASA has selected Vast for a private astronaut mission to the ISS no earlier than mid-2027. This will be the sixth such private mission to the ISS but the first by a company other than Axiom Space. https://t.co/AXHjd7a0xH
Germany’s Helsing, HENSOLDT Team up on Autonomous Systems for Euro CCA
Germany’s Helsing and HENSOLDT have announced a joint effort to equip Helsing’s CA‑1 autonomous aircraft with AI‑driven combat capabilities. HENSOLDT will integrate its radar, optronics, self‑protection and electromagnetic warfare sensors through its Multi‑Domain Operations Core software. The AI‑pilot, named Centaur,...
Engine Profits Unexpectedly Fund the Airplane They Doubted
Experts: Boom will never be able to finance building an airplane and an engine. Ironic reality: The engine is so profitable it finances the airplane. (In all fairness, neither experts nor I saw this coming.)