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
DHS S&T Highlights Counter-Drone Purchasing Tool to Support C-UAS Program Executive Office
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate has launched a free Counter‑UAS (C‑UAS) Purchasing Tool, created by the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, to help first responders and public‑safety agencies evaluate and buy counter‑drone systems. The tool provides standardized scorecards that align detection, tracking, identification and mitigation capabilities with specific mission requirements such as terrain, budget and radio‑frequency environments. Its release coincides with FEMA’s FY‑2026 $250 million grant program for the National Capital Region and the 11 states hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ensuring funds are spent on the most effective solutions. Agencies can access the tool, training presentations, a technology guide and documentation through DHS portals.
Quandela and Safran Partner to Develop Quantum Algorithms for Fluid Dynamics
Quandela and Safran Tech have launched the AQeFLU research project to create quantum algorithms for fluid‑dynamics modelling, backed by the PAQ Quantique programme and Île‑de‑France Region funding. The partnership will use Quandela’s room‑temperature photonic qubits, which can plug into existing data‑centre...
U.S. Army Evaluates JLTV-Based RAD Counter-Drone System
The U.S. Army is evaluating the Reconfigurable Air Defense (RAD) counter‑drone system, developed by SAIC and Kongsberg, mounted on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) during Project Flytrap in Lithuania. The RAD suite combines a stabilized turret, radar sensor and AI‑assisted...
ResilienX Selected to Support GrandSKY in Project ULTRA UAS Integration and Simulation Efforts
ResilienX, Inc. has signed a subcontract with GrandSKY to provide engineering integration and operational modeling for Project ULTRA, a Department of Defense‑backed effort to integrate unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace. The company will deploy its AAM OptiX digital infrastructure as...
Redwire Pursues Opportunities in Landers and Power Systems for NASA’s Moon Base Plans
Redwire is refocusing on lunar landers and power systems after NASA signaled a steady cadence of moon‑base landings. The company, a CLPS contract holder through its Deep Space Systems acquisition, has yet to win a task order but sees a...
EarthDaily Secures $1.2M NRO Contract to Evaluate Multispectral Imagery
Vancouver‑based EarthDaily Analytics has secured a $1.2 million contract from the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office to evaluate its commercial multispectral imagery under the agency’s Strategic Commercial Enhancements program. The award follows the company’s recent appointment to the INSA Space Intelligence Council,...
Misinformation and the Space Economy
Misinformation is emerging as a systemic risk for the $613 billion global space economy, threatening demand, financing, and procurement across launch services, satellite navigation, and Earth‑observation markets. The Space Foundation and OECD note that false claims can ripple into downstream sectors...
Industry Moon Lander Training Cabin Lands at NASA for Artemis
NASA’s Johnson Space Center now houses a full‑scale mock‑up of Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 crew cabin, a 15‑foot‑tall training module for the Artemis lunar program. The trainer will support human‑in‑the‑loop simulations, suit checkouts and docking rehearsals as NASA prepares...
Northrop Grumman Reports B-21 Test Milestone as Program Accelerates
Northrop Grumman announced that the B‑21 Raider Combined Test Force compressed its 180‑day test plan to just 73 days, securing an $11.8 billion contract while completing half of the required missions. The bomber also demonstrated aerial refueling with a KC‑135 Stratotanker at...
U.S. Navy Super Hornet Disables Iranian Oil Tanker With 20mm Cannon
On May 7, 2026, a U.S. Navy F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet fired a burst of 20 mm cannon rounds at an Iranian‑flagged oil tanker, disabling its rudder in international waters. The engagement was part of Operation Epic Fury, a broader U.S. effort...
FlyMyAirport® Expands Actionable Data for Air Service and Marketing
Airport One has added a new data suite to its FlyMyAirport® platform that captures real‑time traveler searches, add‑to‑carts and purchases, revealing demand that airlines traditionally cannot see. The service provides timing intelligence, showing when passengers begin planning and the dates...
Open Source Intelligence Using Satellite-Enabled Sources
The intelligence community’s 2024‑2026 OSINT strategy formalizes open‑source intelligence, positioning satellite‑enabled data as a core pillar. Public programs such as Copernicus, Landsat and NASA FIRMS supply free baseline imagery, while commercial constellations like Planet, Maxar and ICEYE add sub‑meter resolution...
Pentagon Prepares F-35 for Quantum Computing Threat
The Pentagon’s F‑35 Joint Program Office is updating the fighter’s In‑Line File Encryption Device to incorporate government‑mandated quantum‑resistant algorithms. This software change aims to safeguard classified data against future quantum computers that could break current cryptographic methods. The effort aligns...
Options Predict $20 Swing; Is RocketLab Worth $45B?
RocketLab earnings 🚨 Options market is projecting a (+/-) $20 move by mid-June (per implied volatility). At a $45 billion valuation, are you buying?
ATP Alumni Step In to Support Displaced Spirit Pilots
ATP Flight School has activated its alumni network to help pilots displaced by Spirit Airlines' shutdown. The new support program provides interview coaching, resume assistance, and priority access to airline recruiting events. ATP aims to place these experienced pilots—many with...
Juno Flies Past the Jupiter Moon Thebe
On May 1, 2026 NASA’s Juno spacecraft executed a close flyby of Jupiter’s inner moon Thebe, skimming within roughly 3,100 miles (5,000 km). The encounter yielded the clearest image of Thebe to date, captured by Juno’s Stellar Reference Unit camera, though the navigation‑focused...
Satellite Images Reveal Wider Damage to US Bases in Middle East Than Previously Reported
High‑resolution satellite imagery reveals that Iranian strikes since late February have damaged or destroyed at least 228 structures across 15 US‑operated bases in the Gulf region. The most affected sites include Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Ali al‑Salem Air Base, Camp...
Airport Left With No Commercial Flights After Spirit Airlines Collapse
Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy last weekend, instantly canceling all flights and leaving Arnold Palmer Regional Airport—the only U.S. airport served exclusively by Spirit—without commercial service. The airport had been preparing a $22 million expansion to attract new carriers, but the...
Drones and Ancient Revolutions in Military Affairs
The piece likens today’s drone boom to ancient military revolutions such as the chariot, the composite bow, and iron weaponry, showing how breakthrough tech reshapes battlefield balance. Chariots added unprecedented mobility, composite bows extended range and penetration, and iron smelting...
IndiGo to Start Operations From Noida International Airport in June 2026
IndiGo will commence flights from the newly built Noida International Airport (NIA) on 15 June 2026, linking the hub with more than 16 domestic destinations across metros and tier‑2/3 cities. The airline will operate from three airports in the National Capital Region—IGI,...
Picture of the Day: May 7, 2026
Swiss Pilatus P3 warbirds were showcased at a fly‑in event at Lodrino Airport in Ticino. The five civilian‑registered P3s, originally used by the Swiss military in World War II, were displayed on the tarmac against a mountainous backdrop. Lodrino, once a...
Anduril Secures $100M Modification to Modernize Space Surveillance Network
Anduril Industries has secured a $100.3 million contract modification from the U.S. Space Force to expand and modernize the Space Surveillance Network (SSN). The award funds the rollout of SDANet, a mesh‑based communications architecture built on Anduril’s Lattice software, replacing fragmented...
Air Force Plans to Ditch BACN Jets for Satellite Communications
The U.S. Air Force will retire its seven E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft by fiscal year 2028, shifting the mission to satellite‑based communications. The transition will be driven by the Hybrid SATCOM Terminal program, which aims to field...
MDA Space Reports 32% Revenue Growth in Q1 2026 as Backlog Conversion Accelerates
Canadian aerospace firm MDA Space posted Q1 2026 consolidated revenue of $464.1 million CAD (≈$343 million USD), a 32.2% year‑over‑year increase, driven primarily by a 41% jump in its Satellite Systems segment. The company’s backlog shrank to $3.7 billion CAD (≈$2.7 billion USD) as...
AST SpaceMobile Pivots to SpaceX for Mid-June Launch of Three BlueBird Satellites
AST SpaceMobile announced that its next three BlueBird Block 2 satellites will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 in mid‑June 2026, after the April New Glenn failure left BlueBird 7 unrecoverable. The shift to SpaceX restores deployment momentum for the company’s low‑Earth‑orbit cellular broadband constellation....
Iran Campaign Demonstrates Need for More B-21s
Operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury highlighted the strategic value of long‑range bombers while exposing the limits of the current U.S. fleet of 19 B‑2s, 76 B‑52s and 46 B‑1Bs. The campaigns showed that sustaining high‑tempo strikes requires more modern,...
Summer Airfares Set to Surge as Jet Fuel Shortage Grips Market
Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the Iran‑related conflict began, pushing U.S. Gulf Coast benchmarks above $330 per gallon—about 50% higher than pre‑war levels. The surge has forced major airlines such as Delta and American to record $2‑$4 billion...
Interview Reveals Why Artemis II Captivated Global Audiences
The Artemis II mission is one of the most fascinating and universally engaging social media moments I have witnessed in my entire career. I can't believe I got to interview the digital team behind it.
DOD Ramps up VIP Transport Purchases Across Services
A minor theme across the DOD budget has been a push to buy more VIP transport and other support aircraft. Here the Marines outline a goal to buy 17 UC-12W+s in 2 years. USAF outlined its C-37 plan, the Army...
Real Wireless Tapped by UK Spectrum Policy Forum for Lunar Connectivity Study
On May 7, 2026 the UK Spectrum Policy Forum commissioned Real Wireless to produce a three‑month study on the regulatory frameworks needed for lunar communications. The consultancy will chart spectrum demand, identify suitable frequency bands and propose rules that enable Earth‑ground, orbital...
Jet Fuel Crisis Exacerbated by Hoarding, Not Supply
✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ The Global Jet Fuel Crisis: It Would Have Been Mitigated Were It Not for Hoarding Daily Energy Report https://t.co/m1p26knF8S
MDA Launches High‑volume Satellite Factory, Sees Double‑digit Q1 Growth
.@MDA_space: New high-volume sat factory on schedule for @Telesat and @Globalstar constellations and we're pitching it to military customers for low-volume space defense missions. MDA reports double-digit increases in Q1 rev, EBITDA, net income.https://t.co/JLgJQ5F06O https://t.co/Qumet99zsx
What the Jet Fuel Crisis Means for Your Summer Flights and Travel Plans
Canadian summer air travel faces unprecedented turbulence as a U.S. travel boycott and a global jet‑fuel crisis converge. Airlines have slashed U.S. capacity—Air Transat will end all U.S. flights by June—while expanding domestic routes to capture displaced demand. Jet‑fuel prices...
Travel Turmoil: Hantavirus, Cancellations, Fuel Spike, Airline Shutdown
14 Things in Travel Today: — Cruise Passengers Traced After Hantavirus Death — Delta Cancels Hundreds Of Flights — Jet Fuel Costs Surge 56% In March — Spirit Begins Shutdown Process — Spirit 2.0 Crowdfunding Effort Launches + More https://t.co/Jo2IaZruVw
Paraguay Joins Artemis Accords as 67th Signatory.
Paraguay becomes the 67th country to sign the Artemis Accords; third this week and sixth in the last two and a half weeks. https://t.co/VUR7u4OWbr
UAE’s GCAA Grants Archer Restricted Type Certificate, Establishing Pathway to Restricted eVTOL Services
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority has granted Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL a Restricted Type Certificate, the first RTC issued to an eVTOL manufacturer in the region. The RTC creates a limited‑type airworthiness pathway that allows Archer to start commercial...
Airplane Cabins Mix Outdoor Air with HEPA Filtration
This is not entirely correct (air changes ARE a meaningful metric independent of filtration), but mostly want to let people know that airplanes have excellent filtration, too - HEPA filters. Airplane cabin air is 50:50 mix of outdoor air and...
US’s Frontier to Expand on Ex-Spirit Markets, Look at Assets
Frontier Airlines announced plans to enter markets vacated by Spirit Airlines, targeting routes where Spirit has reduced service or exited entirely. The ULCC is also evaluating asset acquisitions, including potential aircraft leases or purchases, to support the expansion. Management cited...
Multiple Russian, Chinese, and American Satellites in Maneuvering Dance in Orbit
Recent reports document a series of proximity operations involving military satellites from Russia, China and the United States. Russia’s Cosmos‑2581, 2582 and 2583 flew within roughly 3 m of each other in low‑Earth orbit, while the U.S. inspector satellite USA‑325 and...
Arcus Takes 74% Stake in TrueNoord, Expanding Regional Aviation Leasing Platform
Arcus Infrastructure Partners has purchased a 74% controlling stake in TrueNoord, a specialist regional aircraft leasing firm. The deal brings long‑term infrastructure capital to a niche market that is attracting institutional investors seeking stable, connectivity‑driven revenue.
State Spending €128m on Helicopters that Cannot Lift Groups of Soldiers, Committee Told
The Irish State has approved a €128 million (≈ $140 million) contract for four H145 helicopters that lack the medium‑lift capacity required to transport groups of combat soldiers. Senator Gerard Craughwell warned the defence committee that the 2022 commission report explicitly called for two...
Contractor Arrested for $7 Million Theft From Omsk Angara Plant
A contractor involved in establishing Angara production line in the city of Omsk is arrested for stealing more than $7 million in three years. DETAILS, CONTEXT: https://t.co/FTQ8hVtgpF https://t.co/hgQPGtm35J
U.S. Navy Super Hornet Disables Iranian Tanker Breaching Hormuz Blockade
U.S. forces used an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to fire a 20mm cannon at the Iran‑flagged tanker M/T Hasna, disabling its rudder after the vessel ignored multiple warnings. The action is part of Operation Epic...
AirAsia Signs Multibillion‑dollar Deal for 150 Airbus A220‑300 Jets, Largest Single A220 Order
Malaysia’s AirAsia has placed a record order for 150 Airbus A220‑300 jets, the largest single firm order for the programme and pushing it past the 1,000‑aircraft milestone. The multibillion‑dollar deal, announced in Mirabel, Quebec, signals aggressive network expansion for the...
Skyroot Aerospace Hits $1 B Unicorn Valuation Ahead of First Orbital Launch
Skyroot Aerospace announced a fresh financing round that pushes its valuation past $1 billion, making it India’s first space‑technology unicorn. The round, led by Singapore sovereign funds GIC and Temasek and BlackRock‑managed funds, is timed for the company’s inaugural orbital launch...
PROFEN and Azercosmos Expand Satellite Services Across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
PROFEN, a Turkish satellite communications provider, and Azerbaijan’s Azercosmos have signed a cooperation agreement at SAHA Expo 2026 to use capacity on the Azerspace‑1 and Azerspace‑2 GEO satellites across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The deal leverages PROFEN’s ground...
ESA and JAXA Team up on Planetary Defence, Ramses Mission to Asteroid Apophis
The European Space Agency and Japan’s JAXA have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to deepen planetary‑defence collaboration, launching the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses). Ramses will lift off in 2028 and rendezvous with asteroid (99942) Apophis ahead of its...
Lockheed Martin Fights Request to Ease 2018 Restrictions on Northrop Grumman’s Solid Rocket Business
Lockheed Martin has formally objected to Northrop Grumman’s petition to the FTC to lift a 2018 consent order that obligates Northrop to sell its solid rocket motors (SRMs) to competitors on a non‑discriminatory basis and to keep the SRM unit...
Northrop Flies XRQ-73 SHEPARD Hybrid Flying Wing for First Time
Northrop Grumman’s XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid‑electric experimental drone performed its inaugural flight test at Edwards Air Force Base, following a maiden flight in April. The aircraft combines a conventional turbine engine with battery‑powered electric motors, creating a flying‑wing platform designed for...
Indian Rocket Startup Skyroot Raises $60 Million in Private Investment Capital
Indian launch startup Skyroot announced a $60 million private‑investment round that lifts its total capital to $160 million and values the company at $1.1 billion. The round was co‑led by Sherpalo Ventures, backed by early Google investor Ram Shriram, and Singapore’s sovereign wealth...