Know What's Happening in Aerospace
Know What's Happening in Aerospace
Artemis II crew prepares for historic lunar flyby
NASA’s four‑person Artemis II crew has passed the mission’s halfway point and is set for a five‑hour lunar flyby on April 6, skimming 4,000‑6,500 miles above the Moon’s far side to capture high‑resolution images of the Orientale basin and test Orion’s life‑support and navigation systems. The Space Launch System placed Orion into Earth orbit with 99.92% trajectory accuracy, and the crew will target a splashdown around April 10‑11.
Also developing:
easyJet announced a partnership with Mirus Aircraft Seating to install lightweight Kestrel seats on roughly 240 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, delivering extra legroom and a 20% weight reduction. The lighter seats are projected to cut fuel burn enough to avoid more than 40,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year. At the same time, the airline opened its 11th UK base at Newcastle International Airport, adding new routes and supporting 1,200 jobs. The launch is complemented by a limited‑time “Destination Dips” menu from Greggs.
3Deus Dynamics, a deep‑tech firm founded in 2020, has earned ISO 9001 and the demanding EN 9100 aerospace certification, complementing its 2023 ISO 13485 medical accreditation. The company’s high‑performance silicone portfolio includes fire‑resistant seals that survive 1,200 °C kerosene flames and EMI‑shielding components attenuating...
Airbus Helicopters is positioning its dual‑use, modular rotorcraft to meet the growing demand for adaptable assets in a world where the line between war and peace is blurring. Vice‑President William Sampson highlights how the H140, H145 and H160 families integrate...
NASA has issued a draft Request for Proposals to move a flown space vehicle, a step lawmakers see as progress toward relocating the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Houston. The agency’s RFP stresses that any shuttle must be...
The 21‑year‑old Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is spiraling toward re‑entry, and NASA has awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a $30 million contract to build and launch a robotic servicing vehicle, Link, to reboost the satellite. Katalyst must design, test, and launch the mission within...
French defence‑tech startup EGIDE announced an €8 million seed round co‑led by Expeditions, Eurazeo and Heartcore Capital. Founded in 2025 by former MBDA engineers, the company is developing electrically propelled interceptors and a hardware‑agnostic AI software suite called Mystique. The funding...
On 25 March 2026, ESA’s Celeste low‑Earth‑orbit positioning, navigation and timing (LEO‑PNT) mission will lift off aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron from New Zealand, deploying its first two demonstration satellites. The launch marks the inaugural step of an 11‑satellite constellation designed to test...
The eight supplied articles cover topics ranging from Indian entertainment to Ugandan economic plans, but none provide details on China’s removal of senior nuclear or missile specialists. Without verifiable information, a factual aerospace news story cannot be produced.
In the United States, seniority remains the primary driver of pilot compensation, culminating in widebody captain salaries that range from $300,000 to over $400,000 annually. Only five major carriers—Delta, United, American, Hawaiian, and Alaska—operate scheduled passenger widebody fleets, totaling 576...
Lockheed Martin has signed $81 million agreements with Poland’s WZL‑1 facility to maintain and test fire‑control radars and optoelectronic systems on the AH‑64E Apache helicopters. The support contracts are part of Poland’s $10.8 billion Apache acquisition program, which includes 96 helicopters and...
EcoCeres Inc. has launched a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pilot program in China, dubbed “Project Spark,” partnering with CASRI, CNAF, China Southern Airlines, Air China Cargo, Sichuan Airlines and Huarong Chemical. The pilot used SAF produced at EcoCeres’ Zhangjiagang plant,...
Japan’s Defense Ministry has earmarked roughly ¥100 billion ($629 million) to launch the SHIELD program, a drone‑centric coastal defense network slated for deployment by fiscal 2027. The system will field thousands of autonomous drones across more than ten variants for surveillance, strike...
A joint French‑German Binational Air Transport Squadron (BATS) conducted its first Arctic airlift of a U.S. Marine rifle company. Two German‑operated KC‑130J aircraft and a U.S. Marine KC‑130J moved Echo Company from Bardufoss, Norway, to Rovaniemi, Finland on 11 March....
Bridges Air Cargo has launched regular operations with a converted Embraer E190F freighter, linking Rome Fiumicino, Malta International and Mitiga Airport in Libya. The aircraft, registered 9H‑BRD and leased from Regional One, completed its first commercial flight earlier this month. Bridges, a Malta‑based...
NASA’s Artemis II, slated for an April 1 launch, will carry four astronauts on a ten‑day lunar flyby, marking the first crewed deep‑space mission since Apollo. After resolving hydrogen‑leak and helium‑flow issues on the Space Launch System, the crew will test Orion’s...
Finnair announced a hybrid fleet renewal, signing a firm contract for 18 new Embraer E195‑E2 jets with options that could expand the order to 46 aircraft. The airline will also acquire 12 used Airbus A320 and A321 ceo models to...
The United States is relocating THAAD interceptors and other missile assets from South Korea to the Middle East to support its ongoing war against Iran. This redeployment has exhausted critical munitions, including Tomahawk and Patriot missiles, and left Seoul’s air‑defence...
The UK National Audit Office warned that the nation is ill‑prepared for a severe space‑weather event, despite improved forecasting from the Met Office. Recent solar storms have already displaced thousands of satellites, highlighting vulnerability. The government estimates a 5‑25 percent chance...
Air Astana Posts US$1.45bil Revenue in 2025 as International Expansion Gains Pace. Kazakhstan’s flag carrier grew revenue and capacity in 2025 via expansion, partnerships and fleet investment before 2026 tensions shifted traffic flows. Read more ⬇️ https://open.substack.com/pub/bbaviation/p/air-astana-posts-us145bil-revenue?r=3ug267&utm_medium=ios
Satellite geosptial imaging service/satellite proivder @Satellogic performs turnaround in 2025, rev up 38%, opex down 25%, $94M uncancellable backlog at Dec. 31. US-based, but ITAR-free products open access to governments that want full sovereign control.https://t.co/2TlBBJGUji https://t.co/SejAvYSosb
Mark Busalacchi has been appointed director of sales for the Americas at Menzies Aviation, taking charge of commercial activities across ground handling, cargo, passengers with reduced mobility, and aviation security services. The hire comes as Menzies accelerates investment and growth...
Satellite IoT/D2D startup @OQTEC: 2 more sats launch this spring, 5 more by year's end. New @EIB funding of $29M permits construction of 20 more. Commercial service in Australia starts this yr. https://t.co/arOtFaMzlq https://t.co/Kyagh8JBOM
Airlines and lessors are scrambling for fuel‑efficient narrow‑body jets as jet fuel spikes to $175 per barrel, putting pressure on aircraft manufacturers. Both Airbus and Boeing are missing their master production schedules, but the bottleneck lies with engine makers who...
The Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 showcase contrasting cockpit philosophies, from the A380’s side‑mounted sidesticks to the 747’s traditional central yoke. The A380 relies on a fully fly‑by‑wire architecture and eight interchangeable LCD displays, while the 747 retains mechanical linkages...
Singapore Airlines will lift its UK‑Singapore schedule to a record 43 flights per week in 2026, adding double‑daily services from London Gatwick and extra summer frequencies. The carrier will operate the new slots with Airbus A350‑900 aircraft, offering a modern...
Iraq has extended its airspace closure for an additional 72 hours, joining Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iran in a regional aviation shutdown. The ban halts all arrivals, departures and transit flights, forcing carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines...
Mumbai International has filed a petition in court demanding repayment of approximately $92 million owed by the insolvent Jet Airways. The claim comes as the airline’s liquidator continues to manage asset sales, including pending auctions of Boeing 777‑300ERs and the transfer...
Airbus has increased the maximum take‑off weight (MTOW) of its Trent 7000‑powered A330‑900 to 253 tons, matching the thrust of the older Trent 700‑powered A330‑200 which was limited to 230 tons. The weight boost relies on aerodynamic tweaks, bleed‑air management and upcoming equipment such...
ZIYAN and GreenValley announced a partnership that leverages ZIYAN’s F15 electric VTOL helicopter to deliver precision LiDAR mapping services. The F15 can lift a 5 kg payload, carry GreenValley’s sensors, and fly up to 100 minutes while tolerating Beaufort 8 winds. Integrated...
"At least two New Glenn second stages (GS2) appear in final integration, complete with insulation blankets. Complete tank sections for at least four more stages await insulation, while bulkheads and barrel sections indicate yet another unit in the works." https://t.co/JPS90rT2WC...
Swissto12 has secured a contract with Japan’s Space Compass to build SC‑A, the first SmallSat‑class optical relay satellite in geostationary orbit. The spacecraft will use Swissto12’s HummingSat platform and is slated for delivery in Japan’s fiscal year 2028. SC‑A serves as a...
The U.S. Air Force’s 55 active fighter squadrons are concentrated at a few key installations, making squadron count a clear indicator of operational importance. Luke Air Force Base leads as the world’s largest fighter‑pilot training hub, while Seymour Johnson hosts...
The European Space Agency’s 2025 report shows the global space economy reaching a record €122 billion in public budgets for 2024, a 9 % increase driven largely by defence spending. Private capital surged to €7 billion, with Europe capturing a historic €1.5 billion –...
Aurora Avionics has moved its headquarters and R&D to the Edinburgh Innovation Hub, scaling up operations as Europe intensifies its launch capabilities. Backed by £320,000 in funding, the startup secured partnerships with Pangea Propulsion and ATMOS Space Cargo to integrate...
The Space Foundation’s 2025 Q2 report puts the global space economy at $613 billion, with the commercial sector accounting for roughly 78 % of that value. Defense and national‑security customers spend over $60 billion annually, driving much of the upstream supply chain. Fast‑growing...
Earth observation has transitioned from a niche, agency‑driven activity to a core operational layer across the modern economy. Global revenues for EO data and value‑added services grew to €3.4 billion in 2023 and are projected to reach nearly €6 billion by 2033....
Space Compass and Swiss‑based SWISSto12 have signed a contract to develop the first commercial geostationary (GEO) optical data‑relay satellite. The platform will host Space Compass’s high‑resolution imaging payload and use SWISSto12’s proven satellite bus to deliver near‑real‑time Earth observation data....
The EUSPA GNSS market report shows global GNSS revenues at €260 billion in 2023, projected to more than double to €580 billion by 2033, reflecting an 8% CAGR. Device shipments are set to hit 2 billion units annually by 2027, pushing the installed...
The Ukraine war turned SpaceX’s Starlink from a civilian internet service into a core military communications network, exposing both strategic advantages and vulnerabilities when Russian forces repurposed the terminals. In response, SpaceX launched the hardened Starshield constellation, providing encrypted, jam‑resistant...
Electronic space warfare—jamming, spoofing, directed‑energy attacks, and cyber intrusion—has moved from theory to active combat. The U.S. Space Force publicly employed space‑based electronic warfare during Operation Epic Fury in February 2026, disrupting Iranian satellite communications and GPS signals. Twelve countries now field or...
The United States has launched Operation Epic Fury, deploying its full strategic bomber triad—B‑1B Lancer, B‑2 Spirit and B‑52 Stratofortress—against Iranian military targets. Since the Feb. 28 strike, more than 5,500 precision attacks have hit missile sites, IRGC facilities and command...
Progress M-33 cataloged in a 263 x 279 km orbit, with third stage in 183 x 215 km. No orbit data yet for Friday's Electron launch.
Since January 2020, the number of scheduled business and first-class seats on domestic flights has grown 27% https://t.co/g866xPI6oL https://t.co/X2H9UafA9k
IndiGo and Air India, India’s two largest carriers, are confronting pivotal CEO succession decisions. IndiGo’s foreign‑born chief Pieter Elbers stepped down on March 10, 2026, while Air India’s expatriate CEO Campbell Wilson will likely depart when his contract ends in 2027. Both executives were...
NASA used the United States' 250th anniversary to reaffirm its commitment to returning humans to the Moon under the Artemis program. The agency invoked Apollo legend and warned that public disengagement could jeopardize future lunar and Martian ambitions.
The Missile Defense Agency and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force completed JFTX-01, the first live‑target tracking exercise using the SPY-7 radar on Japan’s Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV). The test, conducted on March 17 and 19 off the U.S. East Coast,...
Impossible to choose just one "pick of the week." SO much going on... What’s Happening in Space Policy March 22-28, 2026 https://t.co/PBNQ87f5RZ
Thales Alenia Space (TAS) unveiled its 2026 roadmap at SATShow, emphasizing high‑revisit Earth observation and Europe’s sovereign satellite constellations. The company confirmed its lead‑engineering role in the IRIS² program and highlighted the upcoming launch of the Celeste IOD‑2 CubeSat, a...
The use of RM-48U is a growing issue, supplementing existing SRBMs. Russia is dedicating certain S-400 air defense units to this strike role. https://t.co/RPvaVKxyaE
Frontier Group’s CEO Jimmy Dempsey unveiled a multi‑year turnaround plan that right‑sizes fleet growth to high single‑digit percentages and launches a $200 million cost‑savings program through 2027, half of which comes from rent reductions tied to an AerCap deal. The airline...
