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:
Royal Navy Merlin HM2 helicopters fitted with the Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control system have departed RNAS Culdrose for a self‑deployed deployment to Cyprus. The Thales Searchwater pulse‑Doppler radar can detect low‑flying UAVs such as Shahed drones at ranges up to roughly 100 miles over water. Crowsnest achieved Full Operating Capability in March 2025 and now augments the RAF’s Protector MQ‑9B ISR platform stationed at RAF Akrotiri. The RN plans to replace the system with a UAS‑borne radar by 2029 to free Merlin airframes for anti‑submarine duties.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman answered a public query on Twitter in real time, rejecting the notion that the agency faces a budget shortfall. He highlighted that NASA receives roughly $25 billion annually, plus an additional $10 billion from the recent bipartisan funding...
American Airlines will launch four new winter transatlantic routes to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Edinburgh and Lisbon using its Airbus A321XLR. The narrow‑body jet, capable of carrying 155 passengers, will operate from Philadelphia between late January and late March, filling seasonal demand that...
The Boeing 737‑700 remains a linchpin of low‑cost carrier strategy in 2026, offering a rare blend of range, speed, and operational simplicity. Its high‑performance wing, CFM56‑7B engines, and 41,000‑ft service ceiling deliver fuel‑efficient, high‑altitude cruising that outperforms many newer narrowbodies....
Overture cabin: - Entry door is 6’ 3”, 1” taller than 737, 10” taller than Concorde - Forward aisle height peaks at over eight feet, with a minimum of 6’ 8” - Last row aisle is 6’2”, about the same as a...
From 8 March Qatar Airways will operate limited flights to London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Madrid, Rome, Frankfurt and Bangkok. These flights are ONLY for passengers whose final destination is Doha, the airline said in a statement.
American Airlines and United Airlines are expanding service at Chicago O'Hare, but the growth in flight frequencies exceeds the growth in available seats. United’s increase outpaces American’s, highlighting a more aggressive capacity push. Larger aircraft configurations are being deployed, which...
We've seen a confirmed drop in Iran's missile attacks, but drones remain the larger LT threat. The complication that I'll be following closely is China's role. With Chinese shipments of drone components still entering Iran, the US will have to...
Uganda Airlines has grounded both of its Airbus A330‑800neo aircraft after unscheduled maintenance, leaving its long‑haul fleet idle since mid‑January 2026. The airline announced a suspension of all long‑haul services on February 20, affecting routes to Dubai, London Gatwick and...
American Airlines and United Airlines are slated to boost their summer 2026 schedules at O'Hare by double‑digit percentages, pushing the airport's traffic to roughly 15% above last summer levels. The surge includes dozens of new nonstop flights to smaller markets,...
Astrum Aerospace successfully launched its first crew of Moon colonists, marking the inaugural step in CEO Sanjay Forrester's plan to create off‑world havens amid an impending comet threat. The mission, featuring botanist Dr. Lena Zhou and habitat engineer Marco Diaz,...
Brussels Airlines is rolling out a comprehensive upgrade of its inflight product across all cabins, with the most significant investment in Premium Economy on long‑haul routes. The refresh includes premium tableware, three hot‑meal choices, enhanced entertainment accessories, and a new...
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said AMAL by Malaysia Airlines will resume flights to Jeddah and Madinah from Kuala Lumpur starting 8 March 2026 following a brief period of limited flights due to the closure of Middle East airspace. Flights to...
The University of Michigan M‑SAAVE student team completed a five‑year Humanitarian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Mission (HUM) with Air Serv International, showcasing a modular aircraft capable of aid drops and RGB/infrared imaging. The team delivered a comprehensive technical package to Air...
Delta Air Lines faced a severe hailstorm at Atlanta Hartsfield‑Jackson Airport that forced the control tower to evacuate and prompted the FAA to issue a full ground stop. Delta chose to keep the stop in place, leaving hundreds of passengers...
Singapore Airlines has cancelled all flights to and from Singapore-Dubai until 15 March 2026 due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
A new MRI analysis of 26 astronauts reveals that microgravity causes the brain to shift upward and backward inside the skull, with movements up to more than 2 mm in year‑long missions. The study segmented the brain into over 100 regions,...
The Pentagon approved a $53.1 million contract modification for Lockheed Martin to upgrade the Long‑Range Anti‑Ship Missile (LRASM) production line, adding tooling and test equipment to boost output. The amendment lifts the overall contract value to $462.9 million and extends work through November 2028....
The U.S. Army tested Elbit America’s SlingWorks launched effects system during the CDF CFWE 26 exercise at Yuma Proving Ground. The demonstration, conducted with soldiers from the 1st Armored Division, showed the platform’s ability to share targeting data across existing Army networks...
A U.S. and Israeli strike on March 7 destroyed the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force's rare Boeing 747 cargo aircraft at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport. The aircraft, a modified 747‑100 used for long‑range logistics and previously spotted delivering military supplies...
The Boeing 777X will be Boeing’s next-generation flagship widebody. Its cabin introduces larger windows, a wider interior and redesigned overhead bins designed to improve passenger comfort on long-haul flights. Would you choose the 777X for your next long-haul journey?
Since early 2024, multiple sources have indicated that Pakistan is negotiating to become the first export customer for China’s Shenyang J‑35 stealth fighter, with reports of a 40‑aircraft order accompanied by HQ‑19 missiles and KJ‑500 AEW&C systems. Although Pakistani officials...
Remember the asteroid we thought might hit Earth or the Moon in 2032? New data from the JWST shows it will hit NEITHER. JWST's IR eyes are great for this because the asteroid is tiny and far, and thus, really dim....
The BlackSky Global satellite launched on Electron on Mar 5-6 has been cataloged in a 467 x 477 km x 42.0 deg orbit, confirming successful launch.
Subodhana Wijeyeratne’s "The Islands and the Stars" offers the first comprehensive English‑language chronicle of Japan’s space program, tracing its evolution from 1920s wartime rocketry to the 2003 creation of JAXA. The book highlights Japan’s early emphasis on unmanned missions, the...
🚨STARSHIP LAUNCH WINDOW UPDATE According to Musk we should see Starship Flight 12 in the first week of April.
Russia's Ekspress-AT1 comsat shuts down mysteriously as Roskosmos is struggling to transition to domestic development of communications satellites. The replacement is promised at the end of 2030... if money available. Details: https://t.co/OeG1s4wfhC https://t.co/gjAig4ks29
SEKISUI KYDEX introduced KYDEX® ECO™ 6565HI, a new aviation‑interior material built on renewable raw materials and verified life‑cycle assessment data. The thermoplastic sheet delivers an 8% cut in global warming potential and a 195% reduction in acidification potential while remaining...
Ukraine’s General Staff posted footage of a strike on Shahed storage and launch location in Donetsk airport with ATACMS and SCALP missiles. https://t.co/r3Dg02y4Ci https://t.co/pt5k00tXIW
Explain like I'm 5. The SpaceX roadmap, from their children's book: • Moon, Mars, Beyond ✔️ • Making Life Multiplanetary 🔜 Mars ✔️ • Robots working it ✔️
On March 6, a United Airlines Boeing 737 collided with a deicing truck at Denver International Airport during a cold‑weather departure. The impact knocked the truck onto its side, injuring the contractor driver who was hospitalized. The flight, UA‑605 to...
GOL Linhas Aéreas announced its inaugural long‑haul route, a nonstop service between Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão Airport and New York’s JFK, launching on July 8. The airline will operate the route three times weekly using its new Airbus A330‑900 aircraft. The...
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center issued a procurement notice for a next‑generation upper stage, Centaur V, to be used on the Space Launch System’s Artemis IV and V flights. The agency will award the contract solely to United Launch Alliance, citing the...
Merops has performed well in Ukraine and the system has been continuously improved in response to feedback from Ukrainian drone units and adaptations in Russia’s employment of Shahed / Geran OWA UAS. It is a good example of how the...
Qatar Airways to operate repatriation flights from Doha to Europe as air traffic stays shut https://t.co/ZSCBkVAHme
Taiwan is fast‑tracking a government‑led space‑defense program to counter growing Chinese threats. The Taiwan Accelerator Plus (TAcc+) initiative, managed by ITRI and funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, has supported 42 startups developing satellites, rocket engines and geospatial tools...
🚨LAUNCH SITE EXPANSION: SpaceX is performing the largest expansion in its Starship launch site history. At the same time, Pad 2 is made ready for Flight 12, and Pad 1 is being updated. Parallel execution enables SpaceX to be faster than anyone else....
"The thing that really matters is the autonomy behaviours that should be sovereign, because we can swap out vehicles.” How Anduril is building the battle OS first, platforms second as West races to rebuild combat mass #avgeek https://t.co/69i5ruKVXK https://t.co/nJuPlxPPGf
Dominion Dynamics, an Ottawa‑based defence startup, announced a CAD 50 million investment to develop an Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP), a sovereign “autonomous wingman” that will operate alongside manned fighters. The company plans to deliver a sub‑scale prototype within 24‑36 months, leveraging advanced...
It's happening. "This justification provides the rationale for contracting by other than full and open competition to award a sole-source contract to United Launch Alliance (ULA) to procure replacement upper stages for use in the Space Launch System (SLS) for the...
Statement from Trump after meeting with RTX, Lockheed, Northrop, Boeing, L3Harris and Honeywell on munitions. Trump says: "They have agreed to quadruple Production of the 'Exquisite Class' Weaponry" but unclear what is new from previously announced agreements.
Lufthansa Group posted a €1.339 billion net profit for 2025, a 3% decline from 2024 and trailing Air France‑KLM and IAG. Revenue rose 5.4% to €39.6 billion, while Adjusted EBIT jumped 19% and operating margin edged to 4.9%. Within the group, Lufthansa...
The United States Air Force has begun rotating Rockwell B‑1B Lancer supersonic bombers to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, with up to six aircraft expected during the current deployment. The arrival coincides with an intensification of U.S. air strikes against Iran, signalling...
U.S. Space Force leaders are exploring dual‑use initiatives that can sustain today’s space‑superiority mission while laying groundwork for future Guardians—military astronauts—operating in orbit. At the AFA Warfare Symposium, officials warned that China’s fully integrated civil‑military space program could give it...
US airlines no longer hedge fuel costs. That could hurt margins if Iran conflict lingers - https://t.co/LvmzI2bxEL
Daher and partners unveiled a 64‑ply carbon‑fiber‑reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) wing rib that weighs 22% less than aluminum and eliminates rivets through patented infrared welding. The rib’s 12 mm thickness meets high‑load requirements while cutting assembly cost by 15% and shortening production...
Private jets emerge as alternative way out of the Gulf as Iran conflict intensifies https://t.co/cwxGuY1dAP
“Their ability to exit and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere makes them incredibly difficult to intercept.” 👏All missiles fired on ballistic trajectories travel through space, including the Iranian ones.👏
In September 2022 NASA’s DART spacecraft slammed into Dimorphos, the smaller member of the Didymos binary, deliberately altering its orbit. New analysis published in Science Advances shows the impact also slowed the entire binary system’s heliocentric speed by roughly 12 microns...
Boeing is reportedly close to securing a record 500‑plane order from China, primarily 737 Max jets, with an additional 100 wide‑body aircraft under discussion. Sources say the deal could be unveiled during President Trump’s Beijing visit from March 31 to...
