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
China Launches Three Astronauts to Its Tiangong-3 Space Station
China successfully launched three astronauts aboard a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan to its Tiangong‑3 space station. The crew is slated to dock within 3.5 hours and begin a six‑month stay that could be extended to a year based on performance. One of the astronauts hails from Hong Kong, adding a political dimension to the mission. The launch brings China’s 2026 total to 29 orbital flights, second only to SpaceX’s 60.
SpaceX Accuses AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon of Colluding to Block Starlink Mobile
SpaceX has publicly accused the three largest U.S. wireless carriers of colluding to impede its Starlink Mobile satellite broadband rollout. The claim follows SpaceX's recent $20 billion spectrum acquisition with EchoStar and comes as the carriers announce a joint venture to...
Citi Raises Boeing Target to $260, Citing Defense Surge After Q1 Earnings
Citi lifted its Boeing price target to $260, up from $256, after the company posted a 21% jump in first‑quarter defense revenue to $7.6 billion and a record $86 billion defense backlog. The analyst team argues the defense sell‑off has over‑corrected, creating...
Italy Switches €1.39 Bn Tanker Order From Boeing to Airbus, Redefining Europe’s Air‑Refueler Market
Italy’s defence ministry signed a €1.39 billion contract on 16 April 2026 for six Airbus A330 MRTT tankers, formally cancelling the previously planned Boeing KC‑46 Pegasus purchase. The move redirects a multi‑billion‑dollar procurement from the United States to Europe, bolstering Airbus’s lead in...
Anduril Wins Share of $1.8 B Space Force GEO Contract
Anduril Industries has been awarded a portion of the U.S. Space Force's $1.8 billion Andromeda program, a 10‑year effort to field autonomous satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The contract places the defense‑tech start‑up alongside established aerospace giants as the service seeks “neighborhood‑watch”...
Both Engines Died At 41,000 Feet — Canada’s Metric Switch Left A Brand New Boeing 767 With Half The Fuel...
In July 1983 Air Canada Flight 143, a brand‑new Boeing 767 ran out of fuel at 41,000 ft because a metric conversion error halved the fuel load. Both engines flamed out, turning the jet into a glider. Captain Robert Pearson, a qualified...
This Zurich Startup Built a Four-Armed Robot for Space Stations. Each Astronaut Hour It Saves Is Worth $140,000.
Zurich‑based Orbit Robotics unveiled Helios, a four‑armed robot built for microgravity environments on space stations. The design replaces legs with two anchoring arms and two working arms, using tendon‑driven actuation to keep weight low while maintaining dexterity. Helios targets the...
Shenzhou 23 Launch Carries First Hong Kong Specialist
LAUNCH at 1508 UTC May 24 of Shenzhou 23 carrying Chinese astronauts 朱杨柱 (Zhu Yangzhu), 张志远 (Zhang Zhiyan) and Hong Kong payload specialist 黎家盈 (Lai Ka-ying)
Hongkongers Praise Astronaut Lai Ka-Ying at Send-Off Ceremony in Jiuquan
Hong Kong’s first astronaut, police superintendent Lai Ka‑ying, joined the Shenzhou‑23 crew for a launch from Jiuquan, drawing enthusiastic cheers from Hongkongers at the send‑off ceremony. Lai, the fourth Chinese woman in space and the mission’s payload specialist, will spend...
China’s ‘Bohai Sea Monster’ Spotted with Military Upgrade
New photos of China’s experimental wing‑in‑ground‑effect craft, dubbed the Bohai Sea Monster, show four external weapons pylons under the wings, indicating a combat‑oriented design. The prototype, first identified in June 2025, features turboprop engines, a V‑shaped tail and a hull...
BAE Delivers Sensor Hardware for Space Force Satellite
BAE Systems has delivered the sensor subassembly and controller for the U.S. Space Force’s Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar (NGP) programme, keeping the schedule for a 2028 launch. The hardware is part of Flight Unit 1, the first of two...
Air India Express Boeing 737 Grounded After Pilots Try to Takeoff On the Edge of the Runway
An Air India Express Boeing 737‑800 attempted takeoff from Muscat’s Runway 26L on May 15 while aligned with the right‑hand edge lights instead of the runway centreline. The aircraft struck multiple lights, triggering a loud bang, a master‑caution alarm, a hydraulic leak...
JetBlue Expands Fort Lauderdale Hub to 150+ Daily Flights Amid SpaceX Disruption
JetBlue President Marty St. George announced the airline will lift Fort Lauderdale‑Hollywood International Airport to more than 150 daily departures by early 2027, cementing its bid to become the airport’s leading carrier. The expansion comes as a SpaceX Starship launch...
German Spin‑off Lepto Unveils 1‑µm Terahertz Filters to Lighten Satellite Payloads
Lepto GmbH, a German spin‑off from Empa, launched a one‑micrometer‑thin terahertz filter for satellite communications, promising lighter payloads and faster, more secure links. Founders Elena Mavrona and Erwin Hack say the custom‑fabricated, 3D‑printed frames enable scalable production as the company...
The First All-Female Spacewalk in History Did Not Happen Until October 2019, Fifty-Eight Years After Yuri Gagarin Orbited Earth —...
NASA planned an all‑female spacewalk for March 29, 2019 with Christina Koch and Anne McClain, but the EVA was scrapped when only a single medium‑size hard‑upper‑torso suit component was ready on the ISS. The mission was re‑assigned, and the first all‑female EVA finally...
India’s First Four-Engine Cluster Firing Marks New Frontier for Agnikul Cosmos
Agnikul Cosmos, the Chennai‑based private launch firm, successfully fired four semi‑cryogenic, 3D‑printed rocket engines in a synchronized cluster—the first such test in India. The test required eight electric pumps, eight motors and eight independent speed‑control algorithms to operate in perfect...
BAE Upgrades Link 16 Test Capability for F-16s
BAE Systems has finished developing an upgraded Link 16 test capability for MIDS JTRS terminals on U.S. Air Force F‑16s. The new automated solution is installed on two existing avionics intermediate shop platforms, allowing on‑site validation of the radios. By delivering...
NASA Spacecraft Beams Back Blue Images of Mars on Its Way to a Metal Asteroid — Space Photo of the...
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft performed a close flyby of Mars on May 15, skimming 2,864 miles (4,609 km) above the surface and returning vivid color images of Huygens crater, the southern highlands, wind‑blown streaks and the south polar cap. The gravity‑assist maneuver added roughly...
The Voyager Golden Record Carries Greetings in 55 Languages — a Deliberate Attempt to Send a Small Sample of Human...
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory turned off Voyager 1’s Low‑energy Charged Particles experiment in April 2026 to stretch the spacecraft’s dwindling power supply, signaling the final decade of active transmissions. The Voyager Golden Record, a 12‑inch gold‑plated copper disc launched in 1977, carries...
Starlink Licence Gets Delayed By The Gambia
SpaceX’s Starlink has paid for a VSAT operating permit in The Gambia, but the government refused approval, insisting the company must obtain a full satellite licence. The Ministry of Digital Economy cited insufficient competencies and equipment, and raised concerns about...
Why The US Air Force Is Scrapping 119 F-15E Strike Eagles But Keeping The Other 99
The U.S. Air Force will retire 119 of its 218 F‑15E Strike Eagles, keeping only the 99 aircraft equipped with the more powerful F100‑PW‑229 engines. The retired jets, which use the older F100‑PW‑220 engines, will be decommissioned while the survivors...
“The System Will Tell Us”: United Airlines Using AI To Help Passengers Make Flight Connections
United Airlines has launched ConnectionSaver, an AI‑driven decision tool that helps gate agents determine whether to hold aircraft for late‑connecting passengers. The system evaluates crew schedules, aircraft routing, ground‑hold limits and arrival windows, and has already facilitated 54,000 extra connections...
The Current State of GPS Following OCX with Dr. Sean Gorman, CEO of Zephr.xyz.
In this episode, Dr. Sean Gorman, CEO of Zephyr, explains the fundamentals of GNSS, the differences between GPS jamming and spoofing, and why the U.S. Space Force’s Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) – a $6‑$7 billion ground‑segment upgrade for GPS...
A NASA Satellite Launched in 1976 Carries a Carl Sagan–Designed Plaque Sealed Inside Its Core, Mapping Earth’s Continents 268 Million...
On 4 May 1976 NASA launched LAGEOS‑1, a 60‑cm brass‑aluminium sphere that serves as a passive laser‑ranging target for measuring Earth’s tectonic motion. Inside its core are two stainless‑steel plaques designed by Carl Sagan, each displaying three continental maps: Pangaea...
Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile, Redwire, Honeywell, Boeing Lead Space‑Sector Trading Surge
MarketBeat’s stock screener singled out Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile, Redwire, Honeywell International and Boeing as the five space‑sector equities with the highest dollar trading volume over the past several days. The spotlight reflects growing investor interest in launch capabilities, satellite...
China Launches Shenzhou-23 with Hong Kong’s First Astronaut, Targeting Year‑Long Space Residency
China’s space agency will launch the Shenzhou-23 crewed mission on May 24, sending three astronauts—including Hong Kong’s first astronaut, Lai Ka‑ying—to the Tiangong space station. The flight will test a year‑long in‑orbit residency, a key milestone for China’s push toward...
U.S. Air Force General Labels MQ-9 Reaper ‘Most Valuable Player’ in Iran Operation Despite Losses
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told the House Armed Services Committee that the MQ‑9 Reaper drone was the "most valuable player" in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, even though roughly 30 aircraft have been lost....
Boeing Lands 200‑plane China Order as Shares Tumble Nearly 5%
Boeing announced a 200‑aircraft purchase from China, its first major Chinese order in almost a decade. The announcement sent Boeing shares down 4.73% on the day and a further 1.38% overnight, reflecting investor disappointment versus expectations of a 500‑plane deal.
NASA Launches Open Competition for JPL Management as Caltech Contract Ends in 2028
NASA announced a formal solicitation for bids to run the Jet Propulsion Laboratory after Caltech’s contract expires in 2028. The $30 billion Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) award could attract universities, aerospace contractors and other not‑for‑profit entities, reshaping how...
Rocket Lab Wins $90 Million U.S. Space Force Contract to Build First GEO Satellites
Rocket Lab Corp. has been awarded a $90 million contract by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to design, manufacture, integrate and operate two geostationary satellites carrying the Heimdall space‑domain‑awareness payload. The deal launches Rocket Lab’s first GEO satellite production...
How Ukraine Found the Cards To Win, Without Help From the U.S.
Ukraine has turned its domestically produced drones into a strategic weapon, striking deep‑inside Russian territory and crippling energy and logistics hubs. The campaign, backed by U.S.‑sourced Silvus communications and billions of dollars in American investment, has forced Russia to divert...
On the Space Show Twice This Week!
The Space Show is hosting two live Zoom panels to dissect SpaceX’s recent Starship/Superheavy test launch. A quick open‑lines show on Sunday, May 24, will feature the program’s board of advisors, who bring an engineering‑focused lens, while a longer session on...
NASA Shares Psyche Spacecraft's Photos of Mars
NASA released a set of images captured by the Psyche spacecraft during its Mars gravity‑assist flyby, including a color‑enhanced view of the 290‑mile Huygens double‑ring crater and a high‑resolution shot of the bright water‑ice at the southern pole. The probe...
FAA Clears New Glenn for Launch
The FAA has approved Blue Origin’s investigation report on the New Glenn NG‑3 launch, confirming that corrective actions have been taken after an off‑nominal thermal condition caused one BE‑3U engine to under‑perform and miss the target orbit. The company has not...
FAA Clears Blue Origin’s New Glenn for Flights After April Upper‑Stage Failure
The Federal Aviation Administration cleared Blue Origin’s New Glenn for further flights on Friday, ending a month‑long grounding caused by an off‑nominal thermal event in the rocket’s upper stage that burned up an AST SpaceMobile satellite. The clearance lets Bezos’s company...
Retro‑Livery Cargo Queen Delivers Valentine Flowers to Miami
Retro livery Cargo Queen loaded with flowers🌹🌻🌷💐🌼 a few days before Valentine's Day 💝. Just gotta love this @Cargolux_Intl B747-4EVF(ER) LX-NCL with the retro livery, landing at @iflymia (MIA) 🇺🇸 on a flight from Quito (UIO) 🇪🇨
SpaceX Starship 12 Orbits Earth, Ends in Planned Fireball Splashdown in Indian Ocean
SpaceX launched Starship 12 from Texas on May 23, 2026, sending 20 mock Starlink satellites into orbit before the vehicle re‑entered over the Indian Ocean and ignited in a planned fireball splashdown. The flight, despite engine hiccups, demonstrated upgraded grid fins...
SpaceX’s Heat Shield Temperatures Show Reusability Progress
We need heat shields to protect us, since we use the air to slow us down as we return to Earth. From orbital speed, it gets to 1650°C / 3000°F. From the Moon: 2750°C / 5000°F. For yesterday's Starship suborbital...
Starship V3 Boost Stage Shows Dramatic Performance Gains
This is a great visualization of the markedly improved capabilities of the Starship V3 boost stage.
U.S. F-16s Hold the Line in the Gulf After Iran Campaign Ends
U.S. Air Force F‑16s continued combat patrols over CENTCOM after Operation Epic Fury ended on May 5, 2026. Photos from May 14 show the jets carrying a mixed loadout of air‑to‑air missiles, laser‑guided bombs and APKWS II 70 mm rockets designed for low‑cost drone interception....
China Launches Shenzhou-23 Crew, Includes Hong Kong Astronaut
It's been so busy (!) I almost missed that China is sending a new crew to Tiangong tmrw, May 24. Shenzhou-23 lifts off at 11:08 pm Beijing Time, which is 11:08 am EDT. https://t.co/dvhX8EgqIr Two men and a woman from...
Pentagon Finally Releases Footage Of Unidentified Object Shot Down By F-16 Over Lake Huron
The Pentagon has declassified and released infrared video of the February 12, 2023 encounter in which a Minnesota Air National Guard F‑16 shot down an unidentified aerial phenomenon over Lake Huron. Analysts say the object behaved like a balloon, showing tangled wires...
China’s Chang’e-7 Mission to Survey Moon’s South Pole Ahead of Planned Crewed Landing
China’s space agency announced that the Chang’e‑7 lunar mission will launch in the second half of 2026, targeting the Moon’s south pole to study terrain, environment and resource distribution. The probe will employ a multi‑component architecture that includes orbiting, landing,...
Cyber-Star Wars: Securing Satellites and Critical Infrastructure
Space systems are now classified as critical infrastructure, making them prime targets for cyber‑attacks amid heightened geopolitical tensions such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Iran conflict. Attack vectors include DDoS, spoofing, supply‑chain malware, and command hijacking, with a...
SpaceX’s Starship V3 Completes Inaugural Flight, Achieves Controlled Splashdown
SpaceX lifted off its upgraded Starship V3 from Starbase, Texas, at 6:30 p.m. EDT, deployed a test payload and, after more than an hour in space, executed a controlled vertical splashdown. The flight demonstrated the new Raptor 3 engines and hot‑stage system...
40,000 Evacuated as GKN Aerospace Chemical Tank Threatens Explosion in Orange County
More than 40,000 residents of six Orange County cities were ordered to evacuate after a 7,000‑gallon methyl methacrylate tank at GKN Aerospace’s Garden Grove plant entered a critical thermal‑runaway state. Officials warned the tank could either rupture and spill or...
Pentagon Unveils 222 New UFO Files, Including F‑16 Missile Clip and Apollo 12 Audio
The Pentagon released a second tranche of 222 declassified UFO files, adding 46 never‑seen videos and audio from the Apollo 12 mission. The dump includes an F‑16 shooting a mysterious object over Lake Huron and dozens of unexplained aerial phenomena,...
SpaceX Scrubs Starship V3 Launch, Then Flies Test Flight to Indian Ocean
SpaceX delayed Thursday’s Starship V3 launch after last‑minute pad problems, but the rocket lifted off on May 23, 2026, from Texas, carrying 20 mock Starlink satellites and reaching the Indian Ocean. The flight, the 12th test of the vehicle, highlighted...
China Set for Latest Space Launch, with Hong Kong Astronaut Aboard
China’s Shenzhou‑23 mission will launch Sunday from Jiuquan, carrying three astronauts—including Hong Kong’s first astronaut, Lai Ka‑ying—to the Tiangong space station. The crew will conduct scientific experiments, extravehicular activities and a cargo transfer, while one member will remain aboard for a year‑long...
X-Bow Delivers 600th Rocket Motor for Disruptor Strike Drone
X‑Bow Systems delivered its 600th rocket‑assisted take‑off (RATO) motor to AEVEX Aerospace under a $12.2 million contract, marking the first high‑volume use of additive‑manufactured solid propellant on a Group 3 drone. The motors power the U.S. Army’s Disruptor strike drone, giving it...