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
Joby Aviation’s Electric Air Taxi Completes First Manhattan‑JFK Point‑to‑point Flight
Joby Aviation flew its production‑prototype eVTOL from JFK to Manhattan’s West 30th Street heliport in about 15 minutes, proving a quiet, zero‑emission link that could shrink airport‑to‑city trips from over an hour to under ten minutes. The demo, backed by Delta, Uber and the Port Authority, marks the first public point‑to‑point electric air‑taxi service in a major U.S. city.
Farewell Spirit: The Airline Everyone Loved to Hate
I wrote an obituary for the most important airline that everyone loved to hate. Spirit, this one’s for you. https://thepointsguy.com/news/spirit-airlines-shuts-down/
FCC Overhauls Satellite Spectrum Rules, Boosting Starlink Capacity Up to Sevenfold
The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to replace a decades‑old satellite‑sharing rule, a change that could raise low‑Earth‑orbit broadband capacity by as much as sevenfold. At the same time, the agency dismissed SpaceX’s petition to use Globalstar‑licensed 1.6/2.4 GHz bands, underscoring...
If You Have a Flight Booked on Spirit Airlines … No You Don’t – Spirit Shuts Down Operations
Spirit Airlines announced an immediate shutdown on Saturday after a $500 million federal bailout request was rejected, ending its 33‑year ultra‑low‑cost operation. The airline, which had filed for bankruptcy twice and recently emerged from a restructuring, canceled all flights and will...
Spirit Airlines Halts Operations After $500 Million Rescue Deal Falls Through
Spirit Airlines began an orderly wind‑down Saturday after a $500 million government rescue package collapsed. The airline cancelled 277 scheduled flights, halted all operations and left more than 1,300 crew members stranded, while competitors scrambled to absorb displaced travelers.
UK Airlines Cite Jet Fuel Shortage, Warn of Summer Flight Cancellations
British airlines and airport operators warned on Wednesday that a tightening jet‑fuel supply could force flight cancellations across Europe this summer. Transavia, Ryanair and Volotea have already cut May‑June services, while the UK relies on imports for 60% of its...
NATO Scrambles Fighter Jets as Russian Drones Violate Romanian Airspace
Romania’s Defense Ministry recorded seven Russian drone airspace violations and 18 NATO fighter scrambles by April 28, 2026, as Moscow’s long‑range strikes intensify near the alliance’s southeastern border. The surge underscores growing aerial pressure on NATO and fuels calls for heightened...
U.S. Commercial Flight Returns to Venezuela After Seven‑Year Gap
A U.S. commercial airline landed in Venezuela, ending a seven‑year suspension of direct service. The flight marks the first U.S.–Venezuela connection since 2019 and is being hailed as a sign of improving diplomatic ties and a boost for regional tourism...
ISRO and Roscosmos Move Toward Semi‑Cryogenic Engine Deal in Moscow
India's ISRO and Russia's Roscosmos held technical talks in Moscow and are reviewing a draft contract for 2,000 kN semi‑cryogenic engines. The engines promise higher thrust and payload capacity for India's LVM3 launch vehicle, while the agreement signals deeper bilateral cooperation...
Why Artemis II’s Eclipse Footage Matters More Than Its Engineering
On April 1, 2026 Artemis II’s Orion capsule carried four astronauts through a 54‑minute total lunar eclipse, the longest totality ever witnessed by humans. NASA deliberately chose the launch window and a free‑return trajectory to align the flight with the eclipse,...
Listen: Final Spirit Airlines Flight Asked Tower, “Are We The Last One?” — Then Said Goodbye
Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2, 2026, with its final commercial flight touching down at Dallas‑Fort Worth after the crew asked whether any other Spirit aircraft were inbound. The carrier ran out of cash, rejected a proposed taxpayer bailout, and could not...
One Hour per Drone: KIHOMAC Takes on America’s UAV Supply Crisis
KIHOMAC unveiled the Agami, a 20‑lb fixed‑wing UAV that can be assembled from carbon‑fiber parts in under one hour, a stark contrast to 3D‑printed drones that require up to 100 hours. The platform features a "Bring Your Own Payload" open...
American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest & United Offer Rescue Fares For Spirit Airlines Passengers
Legacy carriers American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and United have rolled out rescue fares to accommodate stranded Spirit Airlines passengers after Spirit abruptly halted operations. American is covering 67 of Spirit's 72 airports with uncapped fares, while Delta and JetBlue...
Budget Airlines Face Collapse as Fuel Costs Surge
First airline to cease operations as a result of the Middle Eastern crisis is U.S. budget carrier Spirit Airlines. A few airline CEOs I spoke to recently said the situation is tougher for budget carriers given their thin margins. They have...
Spirit Airlines Ceases Operations
Spirit Airlines, the ultra‑low‑cost carrier that filed Chapter 11 twice in 2025‑26, has shut down after failing to secure a $500 million federal rescue and a $2.5 billion fuel guarantee. The airline operated roughly 100 aircraft in its final month, with many planes...
Japan’s US-2 Joins Balikatan Exercises in South China Sea
Japan’s Maritime Self‑Defense Force deployed its ShinMaywa US‑2 amphibious aircraft for a live casualty‑evacuation drill during the 2026 Balikatan exercises in the South China Sea. The drill paired the US‑2 with the U.S. Navy’s landing‑dock ship USS Ashland, showcasing joint medical‑response...
Spirit Airlines Has Officially Ceased Operations At 2:30 AM ET On May 2, 2026
Spirit Airlines officially entered Chapter 7 liquidation at 2:30 a.m. ET on May 2, 2026, ending 34 years of ultra‑low‑cost operations. The carrier will automatically refund tickets purchased directly with credit or debit cards, while refunds for agency sales must be pursued through the agents....
How the Trump Administration’s Spirit Airlines Rescue Unraveled
Spirit Airlines’ Chapter 11 case collapsed after a week‑long rescue effort involving the Trump administration, major carriers and private equity firms. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and CEO Dave Davis concluded a 15‑minute call that ended negotiations, referring the airline to the...
Spirit Airlines Begins Orderly Wind-Down of Operations
Spirit Aviation Holdings announced an immediate, orderly wind‑down of Spirit Airlines, cancelling all flights. The decision follows a failed restructuring effort with bondholders and a sudden surge in fuel prices that erased the hundreds of millions of dollars needed for...
US's Spirit Airlines Suspends Operations
Spirit Airlines announced an immediate, orderly wind‑down of operations on May 2, 2026, cancelling all flights after failing to secure additional liquidity. The carrier, under Chapter 11 protection, had hoped a $500 million U.S. aid package and a recent bondholder restructuring would...
Low‑Cost Carriers Keep Prices Low, Spirit’s Loss Felt
Sad to see Spirit Airlines go More than anything, low cost Airlines benefit every flyer because they force more expensive options to lower prices almost everywhere. The better ending would've been a merger with JetBlue or Frontier
Spirit's Final Flight Bids Farewell to Sky
Listen: Final Spirit Airlines Flight Asked Tower, “Are We The Last One?” — Then Said Goodbye - View from the Wing https://t.co/zKfo8yE3MB
How Space Affects Metals Used in the ISS Structure and the Risks for Astronauts
The International Space Station’s metal structure endures extreme low‑Earth‑orbit conditions, including thermal cycling, atomic oxygen, vacuum, radiation, and high‑velocity debris. Aluminum alloys, especially 2219, form the pressure shells while the unpressurized truss and external shields face additional mechanical loads. Over...
Yttrium Shortage Threatens Aircraft; US Seeks New Sources
Yttrium is obscure and only traded in the thousands of tons each year. But aircraft will fall out of the sky without it. China controls production and has exported very little to the US over the past year. That might...
Spirit Airlines Initiates Operational Shutdown Amid Crisis
Spirit Airlines has begun a shutdown of its operations https://t.co/1KJsScfWts (via @theaircurrent & TAC/Intel) https://t.co/Y4ZHpea96s
The Most Interesting International Space Station Experiments Ever Conducted
The International Space Station has become a permanent microgravity laboratory, hosting landmark experiments that span particle physics, human biology, plant cultivation, quantum science, and materials testing. Highlights include the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer’s cosmic‑ray observations, the Twins Study’s deep dive into...
Ten Spirit A320s Spotted Flying Over U.S. Early May
Current snapshot of 10 Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 family aircraft airborne over the United States on May 2, 2026 at 12:24am ET. https://t.co/bpczVEcsUR
Iran Conflict Reveals US Firepower Limits to Rivals
Iran War Gives U.S.’s Rivals a Real-Time Look at Its Firepower—Adversaries have watched the U.S. burn through missile stockpiles, seen new tech in action and witnessed what cheap weapons can do to a stronger foe @timothywmartin @tggrove @ByChunHan https://t.co/u1iHjjA18i
Emirates Showcases Retrofit Programme in Playful New Campaign
Emirates has unveiled a new video campaign to promote its US$5 billion aircraft retrofit programme, which will refurbish 219 wide‑body jets. The ad, styled as a DIY home‑renovation gameshow, follows a captain’s family as they “renovate” a 777, then shifts to...
Spaceflight Hubs Share Sunny, Theme‑park Locales
The two hubs of spaceflight in the US are central Florida and southern California. They are also both very sunny and filled with theme parks. What's the connection?
Artemis II Crew Returns, Holds Town Hall and UN Talk, Inspires Next Generation
NASA’s Artemis II crew splashed down off San Diego on April 10 after a ten‑day lunar flyby, then appeared on CBS Mornings and at the United Nations to answer questions from students and world leaders. The outreach underscores the mission’s public‑engagement push ahead...
Sonex Reopens Under New Ownership
ON Capital Inc. has acquired the assets of Sonex LLC and reopened its Oshkosh‑based kit aircraft factory. Production resumed within three weeks, with High‑Wing tail kits slated to ship this month and full kits by mid‑summer. The new ownership appoints...
What Happens If the ISS Breaks Apart During the End-of-Life Deorbit Burn?
NASA’s end‑of‑life plan for the International Space Station relies on a controlled deorbit using the United States Deorbit Vehicle (USDV) after crew have evacuated. If the ISS were to break apart during the final deorbit burn, the single guided object...
How The UK Protected Space In March 2026
The UK National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) reported a 10% rise in March 2026 re‑entries, totaling 72 objects, most of which were satellites. Potential collision alerts dropped to 1,847, while two fragmentation incidents were investigated. The total catalog of UK‑tracked...
Air Force Says Former Qatari 747 Will Be Ready to Fly Trump as Air Force One This Summer
The U.S. Air Force has finished modifying a Qatar‑donated Boeing 747, painting it red, white and blue, and expects it to be ready for President Donald Trump to use as a temporary Air Force One this summer. The jet, described as a “palace...
NASA Laser Terminal Enhances Views During Artemis II Mission
NASA’s Orion Artemis II mission used an optical communications terminal, marking the first crewed lunar‑distance laser link. The system transmitted 484 GB of high‑definition video and data at up to 260 Mbps, far exceeding traditional radio‑frequency rates. Ground stations in California, New Mexico and...
Three Cutting‑edge Aero Antennas Debut From Amazon, ThinKom, SpaceX
Three new aero antennas have arrived on the scene. Welcome to Amazon Leo’s electronically steered phased array antenna, ThinKom’s multi-orbit ThinAir Nexus mechanically steered phased array, and SpaceX Starlink’s newest electronically steered phased array kit. https://t.co/x9eb3j5KWu
L3Harris Files Confidential S‑1 to Spin Off $1 B Missile Unit Amid Surge in Defense Spending
L3Harris Technologies has confidentially filed a draft S‑1 with the SEC to launch an initial public offering of its Missile Solutions business, following a $1 billion Department of Defense investment. The move positions the new entity to capture rising orders for...
Amazon Leo Constellation Tops 300 Satellites After Atlas and Ariane Launches
Amazon announced that its Leo low‑Earth‑orbit broadband network now comprises 302 satellites after a pair of launches on Atlas 5 and Ariane 64. The milestone, less than 10% of the 3,232‑satellite plan, comes as the company races toward a July 30 FCC...
Launch Tomorrow: Watch Three New Pelicans Live
About 24 hours until launch and we’re sending three more Pelicans up! 🛰️ You’ll be able to watch the livestream here: https://t.co/q2zo9uFhDK Launch window opens at 11:59 pm PT / 2:59 ET tomorrow.
Allow JetBlue‑Spirit Merger to Boost Competition
The government should have allowed the JetBlue / Spirit merger to go through. Together they are some competition for the bigger airlines, but apart they are both in a lot of trouble.
NASA to Increase Value of CLPS Contract to Support Surge of Lunar Lander Missions
NASA announced it will boost the ceiling of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract from $2.6 billion to $4.2 billion, signaling a major ramp‑up in robotic lunar lander missions. The agency aims for a cadence of roughly one landing per month,...
Modified Ex‑Qatari Jet Ready as New Air Force One
New VC-25B Air Force One “Bridge” Aircraft Now Fully Modified And Flight Tested The ex-Qatari royal flight aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to the Presidential Airlift Group this summer after a warp speed modifications and testing regime. https://t.co/pwFoonedWL
Artemis 2 Astronauts Get the Star Treatment After Historic Moon Trip
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission returned to Earth on April 10 after a historic 10‑day lunar flyby, marking the first crewed trip to the Moon in more than five decades. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen landed in...
Supersonic Flights Demand Superior Wi‑Fi for Awake Travelers
Contrary to popular belief, great wifi is even more important on supersonic flights. People (try to) sleep through today's long subsonic redeyes. When these flights shift to faster daytime flights, passengers will want to be awake and connected.
China Escalates Stealth Flying‑wing Drone Testing
Massive Chinese Stealth Flying Wings Spotted Together At Secretive Drone Test Base Testing of China's very large flying-wing drones appears to be ramping up, along with one unmanned fighter-like design. Latest on 'Monster of Malan' and more: https://t.co/9CYsXtUVYI
Business Aviation Fuel Use Draws New Scrutiny In Europe
European lawmakers have asked regulators to impose temporary limits on nonessential private jet flights as fuel prices surge and jet fuel shortages emerge. The proposal would restrict private aviation to emergencies, medical missions and critical government functions, and would curb...
Savour WestJet’s European Summer
WestJet is launching a summer 2026 transatlantic schedule from Halifax that adds three new nonstop routes—Copenhagen, Lisbon and Madrid—and resumes service to six existing European cities, bringing the total to nine nonstop destinations. The airline also boosted its domestic network...
Trump Says a 'Final Proposal' To Rescue Spirit Airlines Is Under Consideration
President Donald Trump announced that his administration is weighing a taxpayer‑funded takeover of Spirit Airlines, describing it as a "final proposal" under review. The ultra‑low‑cost carrier, which has filed for Chapter 11 twice and lost more than $2.5 billion since 2020, faces...
SpRCO Awards Contracts For Radar Warning Satellites
On April 29, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (SpRCO) partnered with SpaceWERX to fund three small firms—Assurance Technology Corporation, Raptor Dynamix, and Innovative Signal Analysis—with $3 million contracts each for radar warning receivers. The receivers will detect ground‑based radar emissions that...