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:
Hexagon’s NovAtel has launched the GAJT‑AE3, a compact GNSS anti‑jam antenna aimed at airborne platforms. The unit is the first in the GAJT line to offer full multi‑constellation, multi‑frequency protection, creating up to seven nulls per band and providing multi‑jammer direction finding. Its small footprint allows integration on UAVs and weapons systems while supporting Iridium PNT and L‑Band corrections. The product addresses the surge in sophisticated, low‑cost jamming that threatens navigation reliability.
Israeli forces struck Iran’s primary Space Research Centre in Tehran on March 13, part of a broader wave of attacks on the capital. The centre, which oversees satellite design, propulsion and high‑resolution imaging, is a cornerstone of Iran’s dual‑use space...
Danfé Airlines secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Nepal's civil aviation authority, clearing a key regulatory hurdle toward launch. The carrier plans to operate ATR turboprop aircraft on domestic routes, building on an AOC application filed in May 2025....
NASA postponed a long‑delayed EVA after the International Space Station’s first medical evacuation forced a reshuffle of crew assignments. Astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will now perform a 6.5‑hour spacewalk on March 18, marking the first EVAs of 2026 and...
On March 18, 1945, Germany’s Battery 485 launched a V‑2 missile from The Hague that struck London minutes later, narrowly missing the father of NASA Watch founder Keith Cowing. The V‑2’s groundbreaking propulsion and guidance technology was seized after the war and...
JUST IN: Cathay Pacific cancels passenger and cargo flights to Dubai and Riyadh until April 30, 2026 due to the volatile situation in the Middle East. Initially, the suspension of operations to these two destination was until March 30, 2026....
On March 13, 2026 the U.S. Air Force announced a $2 billion modification to Raytheon’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite‑terminal contract, lifting the total potential value to $2.97 billion. The work, split between Raytheon facilities in Marlborough, Massachusetts and Largo, Florida,...
The U.S. Air Force is re‑evaluating how many Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) it will produce, with a decision expected this summer that could push deliveries beyond the original 100‑unit target for 2029. General Dale R. White indicated the service is...
On March 17 2026, Isar Aerospace signed a launch service agreement with Astroscale Ltd to fly the 520 kg ELSA‑M in‑orbit demonstration from its Spectrum rocket at Andøya Space in Norway. The mission, backed by the UK Space Agency and ESA’s ARTES Sunrise...
On March 17, 2026, AeroVironment Inc. announced the completion of a $200 million acquisition of Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) in San Luis Obispo, California. The deal, financed with roughly $160 million in stock and the balance in cash, brings ESAero’s 32,000‑sq‑ft design...
On March 17, 2026, Rupert Pearce, the UK Ministry of Defence’s national armaments director, told the House of Commons Defence Committee that Boeing had become a “troubled partner” in the E‑7 Wedgetail airborne early‑warning program, which is now unlikely to...
NASA announced on March 19 that the rollout of the Artemis II Space Launch System from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center has been postponed to March 20. The delay stems from a faulty electrical harness in the...
The Soviet Union deployed a fractional orbital bombardment system (FOBS) using the R‑36O missile from 1969 until the early 1980s, fielding a single regiment of 18 silos. Its chief value was geometric: delivering a nuclear warhead from unexpected southern azimuths...
Lite Coms, a seven‑year‑old satcom firm, has deployed almost 1,000 tactical VSAT terminals for U.S. and allied forces. Its core strategy centers on multi‑orbit, constellation‑agnostic terminals that operate across GEO, MEO and LEO networks, highlighted by the upcoming 2026 Ku/Ka...
China’s space program has transformed into a full‑spectrum state system by March 2026, operating the Tiangong space station, a growing satellite‑internet fleet, and advanced lunar and deep‑space missions. Recent milestones include Chang’e‑6’s far‑side sample return and Tianwen‑2’s asteroid‑return flight, while reusable...
Detecting the universe’s first light demands a cold, space‑based infrared telescope with a large aperture. JWST’s 6.5‑m mirror and 0.6‑28 µm coverage have already revealed galaxies at redshift > 14, but its sensitivity limits studies beyond z ≈ 16. Future concepts call for 12‑15 m mirrors, sub‑40 K...
The 2026 assessment of operational intercontinental ballistic missiles shows a reshaped strategic picture. Russia’s heavyweight RS‑28 Sarmat remains non‑operational after a series of test failures, while China has rapidly loaded over 100 DF‑31‑class missiles into new silo complexes, marking its fastest...
Ursa Major has shifted from a launch‑engine startup to a diversified propulsion supplier focused on defense and hypersonics. Its Hadley engine achieved repeated Mach‑5 reusable flights with Stratolaunch and secured a $32.9 million follow‑on contract, while the Draper storable liquid engine...
The U.S. Space Force is introducing Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) to manage groups of systems tied to specific missions rather than individual programs. Four initial portfolios—infrastructure, battle management, satellite communications/positioning, navigation and timing, and missile warning and tracking—will give PAEs...
The Air Force is scaling back the B‑52 Radar Modernization Program, delivering a minimum‑viable product and postponing the new wideband nose radome. It will continue testing the Raytheon AN/APQ‑188 radar with the legacy radome, aiming for a low‑rate production decision...
BAE Systems has secured a contract from the U.S. Air Force to sustain and modernize the AN/ALQ‑221 Advanced Defensive System on the U‑2 Dragon Lady fleet. The agreement covers field service support, repairs, and software upgrades to counter evolving electronic threats....
The Office of Space Commerce is weighing user‑fee options for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) after a December executive order stripped the “free of direct user fees” language from Space Policy Directive 3. Officials say no decision has been...
American Airlines is running a limited‑time promotion that guarantees systemwide upgrades to business class for passengers who purchase premium‑economy tickets on eligible international flights departing in August 2026. The upgrade is confirmed within hours as long as business‑class seats remain...
The SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo released its 2026 airshow schedule and the FAA’s accompanying NOTAM. The event runs April 14‑19 at Lakeland Linder International Airport, showcasing military demonstration teams such as the Thunderbirds, an F‑22 Raptor demo, and the Navy’s...
@americanair finally fixed one of the most annoying parts of flying, but only halfway… It’s a good start, but American should let everyone see delay and cancellation reasons. Right now, the only “hack” is to enroll in text alerts for every flight...
Navy E-2D Hawkeye Radar Planes Appear To Be Rushing To The Middle East The E-2D is America's most capable platform for spotting drones and other low-flying Iranian threats that are wreaking havoc on Gulf Arab States. https://t.co/0X8hOJvdao
Voyager‑2’s 1986 flyby produced the sole close‑up photograph of Uranus’s moon Umbriel, captured from 346,000 miles away with roughly 6‑mile resolution. The image reveals a heavily cratered, ultra‑dark surface that reflects only 16% of sunlight, similar to lunar highlands. A...
Looks like SLS/Orion MIGHT roll back to pad on Thursday after all. They’ll decide tomorrow (Wed.).
"There is a real sense of optimism that... a new generation of airships will return lighter-than-air flight to the heart of the wider aviation industry" #avgeek #aviation https://t.co/1KHaTWqAbF https://t.co/3dmKYCQIjJ
Evolve Dynamics has hired former Dyson product leader Paul Finn‑Kelcey as its inaugural Chief Product Officer. The move is aimed at industrialising the company’s small uncrewed aerial systems—FOXE, WOLFE and SKY MANTIS 2—for the British Armed Forces and NATO allies. Finn‑Kelcey will...
346 People Died In Boeing 737 MAX Crashes — But Shareholders May Get Paid The Most - View from the Wing https://t.co/kIFkOJ6sXF
Build A Rocket Boy is on its own with MindsEye as it separates from IOI Partners. https://t.co/eHIWuWWJh8
Novaspace’s new white paper argues that the United States and Europe must prioritize in‑orbit satellite refuelling to secure space superiority. The paper, based on a 2025 conference of defense, commercial and investment leaders, warns that current propellant limits constrain satellite...
Boeing disclosed a machining error at its Renton plant that left small scratches on wiring bundles in a batch of 737 MAX jets. The company is reworking the affected aircraft to meet its quality standards before delivery. While the issue...
.@Telesat: Lightspeed constellation to have 500 MHz of mil-Ka-band, about 25% of total capacity, to meet surging defense interest. 1st 2 sats launch in Dec, with 96 in orbit by end 2027, commercial service starts spring 2028. @MDA_space @SatixFy_satcom @NationalDefence....
The Air Force’s sixth‑generation F‑47 and the Navy’s F/A‑XX will not be operational until the mid‑2030s, according to Rep. Rob Wittman. In the interim, the services must keep legacy platforms such as the F‑18 and F‑22 flying to bridge the...
Soyuz-5 rocket to fly its inaugural test mission on March 27, according to local authorities in the Yugra Region, warning population on fragments' impact; no confirmation from Roskosmos yet: https://t.co/DBcHRiQe36 https://t.co/wHpGAkKqBV
The Pentagon has lifted the Golden Dome missile‑defense program’s cost estimate to $185 billion for the next ten years, adding $10 billion to accelerate space‑based satellite procurement and data‑link networks. The initiative aims to integrate ground, air and space sensors, interceptors, and a...
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects global air‑passenger demand to more than double by 2050, reaching 20.8 trillion revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) under its mid‑range scenario. Growth is driven by a 3.1% compound annual growth rate, with higher‑growth and lower‑growth...
NASA is gearing up for the X‑59 quiet‑supersonic research aircraft's second flight, slated for this week from the Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards, California. The one‑hour mission will cruise at roughly 230 mph at 12,000 ft before climbing to 20,000 ft and...
The World’s Ugliest Airplane Just Flew For The First Time In a world of increasingly homogeneous- looking military aircraft designs, the platypus-like Kawasaki EC-2 is a radical outlier. https://t.co/m5g28IKfLn
An uncrewed airship is now patrolling NATO's borders - is lighter than air back in fashion? #avgeek #aerospace #airships https://t.co/RYT6aotR7P https://t.co/F0PhTCX93d
HAECO has extended its line‑maintenance partnership with All Nippon Airways through 2030, covering technical and non‑technical support for ANA’s Boeing 787, 767 and 777 freighter fleet based in Hong Kong. The deal reinforces more than two decades of collaboration, adding...
NASA is reconsidering the south‑pole for Artemis’s first crewed landing, exploring alternative sites to reduce risk and accelerate timelines. Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said performance specs are being opened to allow different lunar orbits and constraints. Administrator Jared Isaacman pushes...
ISPTech, a German spin‑off from the DLR, announced a €5.5 million seed round led by Join Capital and backed by several European venture funds. The capital will fund expanded manufacturing, critical‑infrastructure testing, and the commercial rollout of its non‑toxic propulsion suites,...
Airhart announced the opening of its new Design & Engineering Center in Long Beach, featuring a tour of its hangar, flight simulator, and intelligent cockpit architecture. The event will host aviation legend Linda Sollars, who will discuss the FAA’s MOSAIC...
On March 16, 2026 Kepler Communications launched the first commercially operational Orbital Cloud, turning its satellite constellation into an in‑orbit data center. By embedding NVIDIA‑powered edge GPUs and optical inter‑satellite links, the Orbital Data Center (ODC) can run AI models...
Saudi Arabia has partnered with Bengaluru‑based space startup Pixxel to embed its hyperspectral satellite data into the national UP42 geospatial platform. Pixxel’s Firefly constellation of 18 satellites captures imagery across more than 135 spectral bands, enabling detailed surface analysis. The...
Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, Washington, unveiled a third‑generation Oshkosh Striker Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle in a ceremonial push‑in event. The $1.1 million unit replaces the 2009 frontline truck and carries 1,500 gallons of water, 210 gallons of fluorine‑free F3 foam,...
Aer Lingus celebrated one year of nonstop service between Indianapolis and Dublin, a route launched in May 2025 that has quickly become popular with both leisure and business travelers. In its first year the airline operated over 300 flights and...
