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
The Story of NASA’s Troubled Spacesuits…
NASA’s April 2026 OIG audit confirms the International Space Station still depends on the 1970s‑era Extravehicular Mobility Unit, with 203 spacewalks logged through March 2026. After years of in‑house development, NASA moved to the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) model, but Collins Aerospace’s 2024 descope left Axiom Space as the sole commercial suit provider. Axiom’s lunar‑suit timeline now targets late 2027, pushing the Artemis IV lunar landing to early 2028 and risking further delays. Spare‑part shortages and undefined interoperability standards add operational risk to the program.
US Aerospace Output Jumps 28% on Soaring Demand
JUST IN: US aerospace & transport output rose 28% in 2025 with rising demand for planes, defense, and space tech
Ethiopian Converts Boeing 787-9 Options to Firm Orders
Ethiopian Airlines has turned six Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner options into firm orders, adding to the 11 Dreamliners it originally ordered in 2023. The deal, signed in Arlington, Virginia, expands the carrier’s long‑haul fleet from its Addis Ababa hub. Ethiopian already...
Airlines Demand UK Relax Noise Rules and Cut Flight Tax as Fuel Shortage Looms
Airlines UK, representing carriers such as British Airways and easyJet, has lodged a formal request with the UK government to relax noise restrictions, suspend the emissions trading scheme, and cut air passenger duty as a looming jet‑fuel shortage threatens operations....
Meteor F-35 Integration Shows No Signs of Urgency
The UK government confirmed that integrating the MBDA Meteor air‑to‑air missile with the F‑35B will not be ready until the early 2030s, with no sign of an accelerated schedule. The delay stems from the Block 4 software upgrade, whose cost has...
Alaska Air Says Fares Hold as Fuel Surge Tests Earnings
Alaska Air announced that passenger fares have remained steady even as jet‑fuel prices surged, putting pressure on the carrier's earnings outlook. The airline said it is absorbing higher fuel costs while keeping ticket prices unchanged to protect demand. Management highlighted...
RTX Q1 2026 Earnings: Conflict Drives Defense Focus as RTX Delivers Strong Start, Pratt Responds to Airbus in A320 Glider...
Raytheon Technologies (RTX) posted a strong Q1 2026, reporting $20.5 billion in revenue, an 8% year‑over‑year increase, and GAAP earnings per share of $2.45, both topping analyst expectations. The earnings call highlighted a surge in defense demand tied to the ongoing...
ISS National Lab Launches 2026 Orbital Edge Accelerator to Scale Space-Based R&D
The ISS National Laboratory has launched its 2026 Orbital Edge Accelerator, the second year of a program that pairs early‑stage startups with in‑orbit testing and private funding. The accelerator offers two tracks—Sentinel for space‑specific and dual‑use technologies, and Disrupt for...
Europe Leads Civil Aerospace; New Programs Lag?
How does Europe maintain its lead in civil aerospace? And are new programmes moving fast enough? Key Qs from this year's Clean Aviation Annual Forum #avgeek https://t.co/74ypOdKVw1 https://t.co/WefejwxMx9
Northrop Asserts It Can Deliver F/A-XX Despite Doubts
Northrop Defends Ability To Build F/A-XX 6th Gen Naval Fighters If Selected The Navy's top officer said yesterday that an unnamed contractor "really can’t deliver" on F/A-XX "in the timeframe we need it." https://t.co/Ymyixv96ds
Jet Fuel Volatility Continues to Weigh on Airline Profitability, Warns IBA
New IBA analysis shows jet fuel prices remain roughly 54% above pre‑conflict levels, with a brief dip to $94 per barrel after a ceasefire but overall volatility persisting. The firm revised its 2026 global airline EBIT margin outlook down to...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Carsten Drachmann, GomSpace
GomSpace reported 441.8 million SEK (≈$48.6 million) revenue for 2025, a 72% jump and its first profitable full year as a public small‑sat maker. CEO Carsten Drachmann, a former Nokia executive, has re‑engineered the firm from a bespoke lab into an industrial‑scale serial producer,...
GPS III SV10 Enters 388×20201 Km Transfer Orbit
GPS III SV10 tracked in a 388 x 20201 km x 55.0 deg transfer orbit following successful launch on Falcon 9 from Canaveral at 0653 UTC
California Guard Innovation Center Hosts Drone Training
The California National Guard’s Hap Arnold Innovation Center hosted a DCMA Blue List small‑UAS training on April 14, drawing more than 70 representatives from military, federal and industry agencies. The event highlighted the shift from a two‑vendor procurement model to...
Alaska Airlines Reports 1Q Loss, Uncertainty
Alaska Airlines reported a Q1 loss of $193 million, or $1.68 per share, driven by higher fuel costs and disruptions in Puerto Vallarta and Hawaii. Revenue reached $3.3 billion with RASM up 3.5% year‑over‑year and premium demand rising 8%, while international long‑haul...
NASA's 2028 Moon Landing at Risk Over Space Suit Shortage, OIG Warns
The NASA Office of Inspector General warned Monday that the agency’s 2028 Artemis IV moon landing could slip because only one contractor remains to deliver new lunar and microgravity suits. A $3.1 billion contract with Axiom Space now faces further delays,...
Thales Posts 9.7% Organic Q1 Sales Rise, Reaffirms 2026 Revenue Targets
Thales announced first‑quarter sales of €5.32 bn, up 9.7% on an organic basis, and confirmed its 2026 revenue outlook of €23.3‑23.6 bn. The results highlight strong demand for defense and aerospace contracts from governments and large enterprises.
U.S. Army Awarded Dynetics a $617 Million Contract for Advanced Indirect Fire Protection Capability Systems
The U.S. Army awarded Dynetics a $617.2 million contract to produce Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 systems, a mobile 360° air‑defense layer that bridges short‑range weapons and Patriot‑class missiles. The contract covers 53 truck‑mounted Enduring Shield launchers, each equipped with...
Passengers Say American Airlines Pilots Fought — Stranding Them In The Hot Sun For 1.5 Hours
American Airlines cancelled a Bahamas‑to‑Charlotte flight after a cockpit altercation left the crew unable to operate the CRJ700. The aircraft arrived two hours late, and passengers were forced to wait on the tarmac in 90°F heat for more than 1.5 hours....
New Glenn Mission Falls Short, Raising Questions for NASA’s Artemis Plans
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifted off flawlessly on Sunday and its first‑stage booster touched down on a recovery barge in the Atlantic. However, the mission failed to place its commercial communications satellite into the intended orbit, marking a significant performance...
Payload Field Guide: Golden Dome
The Golden Dome missile‑defense program, modeled on Israel’s Iron Dome, was rebranded by President Donald Trump in May 2025 and is overseen by Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein. Valued at $175 billion, the initiative includes a $151 billion IDIQ contract pool that...
At DBF, Aerospace Engineering Students Explore Best Uses of AI
The University of Ljubljana’s carbon‑fiber aircraft BRVINC captured first place at the AIAA Design/Build/Fly competition, crediting AI‑assisted early‑stage research for its performance. While many of the 89 participating teams turned to large language models like ChatGPT for data gathering and...
Roman Launch Keeps Sliding Into Earlier 2026 Dates
Roman schedule changes over the last few years: 2027 --> October 2026 --> Late September 2026 --> Early September 2026.
GE Aerospace Q1 2026 Earnings: Conflict in the Middle East Overshadows Strong Start to 2026
GE Aerospace reported a robust start to 2026, posting $9.5 billion in revenue and GAAP earnings per share of $1.12, both above analyst expectations. Engine deliveries climbed 12% to 450 units, and the order backlog expanded to $70 billion, bolstered by defense...
RF-Design Launches FiberLink CompactLine FCLR1811S4 for Ground Segment Optimization
RF-Design GmbH unveiled the FiberLink CompactLine FCLR1811S4, a 1RU 19‑inch modular platform that merges RF‑over‑Fiber transmission and system monitoring. Designed for teleports, satellite earth stations and broadcast facilities, it handles frequencies up to 2.5 GHz and links up to 20 km. The...
L3Harris Awarded $65m Contract for ATACMS Solid Rocket Motors
L3Harris Technologies has won a contract exceeding $65 million to produce M124 solid‑rocket motors, igniters, and related components for the U.S. Army’s ATACMS missile system, with deliveries slated for 2027‑28. The award builds on three decades of ATACMS support from L3Harris’s...
US Navy PMA-281 Selects GA-ASI for CAMP Project
The U.S. Navy’s NAVAIR PMA‑281 awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) the Collaborative Autonomy Mission Planning and Debrief (CAMP) contract. The effort will extend mission‑planning software to support autonomous combat operations, including behavioural tasking, AI decision thresholds, and comprehensive debriefs....
Boeing Invests CA$36 Million in Aerospace Manufacturing R&D in Winnipeg
Boeing announced a C$36 million (≈US$27 million) R&D investment in Winnipeg to advance composite manufacturing, partnering with the National Research Council and firms like StandardAero, CAE and GE Aviation Canada. The funding supports a ten‑year program to develop automated processes and collaborative...
FAA Releases Redacted Chicago Flight‑cut Transcripts, United Exec Speaks
The @FAANews released redacted transcripts of the Chicago ORD flight cut meetings that have circulated among industry. @United exec Patrick Quayle exchange with FAA/DOT’s Dan Edwards is worth reading https://t.co/JB46MTkdZA https://t.co/364FaRTAG2
Red Cat Lands US Air Force Black Widow Drone Contract
Red Cat Holdins $RCAT large drone win for $RCAT accdg to The US Air Force is purchasing Black Widow drones manufactured by Teal Drones (a Red Cat subsidiary) for feeding live targeting data directly to airborne F-35 fighters. https://t.co/HJrKPkG4tr
Kymeta Chief Scientist Discusses Metamaterial Antenna Evolution and Orbital Sustainability
On April 21, 2026, Kymeta Chief Scientist Ryan Stevenson announced the company’s first antenna that simultaneously operates on Ku‑ and Ka‑band using metamaterial technology. The flat‑panel device employs holographic beam‑forming, eliminating moving parts and enabling rapid switching between LEO and...
OHB and Siemens Team up to AI‑drive Satellite Manufacturing
Space hardware prime @OHB_SE enters 'strategic development partnership' w/ @Siemens to bring AI to volume satellite production. OHB is a major @esa contractor, a likely platform provider to @SES_Satellites for @defis_eu Iris2 constellation & prime for @bundeswehrInfo SatcomBw-4. https://t.co/27vLOt5fhT
MQ-9B Passes Key Icing Tests, Boosting Operational Flexibility
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) completed a series of flight tests that certify its MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft for Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI). The tests, conducted at the company’s Flight Test & Training Center in North Dakota, concluded in...
FAANews $15B NextGen Reform Plagued by Longstanding Issues
.@SecDuffy makes point that $15B @FAANews NextGen reform plan has suffered serious issues for years https://t.co/V9SaXieJXn
Artemis Suits Likely Fine; Axiom Praised for Future Bets
Actually, I think the Artemis spacesuits are probably going to be fine. Axiom deserves credit for betting on the future. https://t.co/UJmwDHUmCE
Ghost Over Earth: How a Balloon Flight Created One of the Year’s Strangest Images
A collaborative art‑science team launched an ultra‑light mannequin wrapped in Italian silk to the stratosphere using a biodegradable latex balloon, reaching roughly 30 km before the balloon burst. A 360° camera captured a ghost‑like silhouette suspended against Earth’s curved horizon, later...
Recurring Friday Night Outages Disrupt Potomac TRACON Operations
The two recent Friday night outages at Potomac TRACON have been cited several times (I wrote up the last one from my car outside my older son's baseball practice) https://t.co/Pa1vp5yLhF
Delayed SPEAR 3 Review Note Set for Imminent Submission
The UK Ministry of Defence’s long‑delayed SPEAR 3 missile review note is now ready for parliamentary approval, after missing its original end‑2025 deadline. The note will lock in a re‑baselined schedule, with fielding of the capability targeted for fiscal year 2028‑29,...
Spain’s Pangea Propulsion Secures €2 Million From the Catalan Government
Pangea Propulsion, a Barcelona‑based deep‑tech firm, received €2 million (about $2.2 million) from the Catalan government to expand its manufacturing and testing capacity. The financing follows a €23 million Series A round and a €7.27 million grant from Spain’s science ministry, underscoring strong public support....
SoftBank Tests Tech to Enable NTNs to Share Spectrum with Mobile
SoftBank showcased a dynamic null‑forming system on a high‑altitude platform, using a light aircraft at roughly 3,000 meters altitude and 200 km/h to transmit on the 1.7 GHz band. The technology creates a steerable null that suppresses aerial emissions toward nearby terrestrial base...
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Endgame
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has asked U.S. regulators for permission to launch up to one million additional satellites, a move tied to his vision of orbital data centers that would harvest solar power for AI workloads. The plan coincides with a...
Sununu's Letter Still Guides ATC Reform Six Months Later
This @GovChrisSununu letter is worth reading again six months later on ATC reform as he speaks at @USDOT event https://t.co/E3pYGHiwdL
Airline CEOs Join DOT Video on ATC Reform
.@JetBlue @AmericanAir @SouthwestAir @united among the CEOs that were part of @USDOT video on ATC reform
Globe Air Cargo Is New GSSA to airBaltic in UK
Globe Air Cargo UK has signed a General Sales and Service Agreement (GSSA) to manage the belly capacity of airBaltic’s 17 weekly flights from London‑Gatwick to Riga and Tallinn, effective 6 March 2026. The agreement also adds two weekly Aberdeen‑Riga services from...
Falcon Launches Every Few Days—Watch Live in Florida or California
Falcon flies every few days. You can see launches in person from Florida or California.
USSF Finalizes GPS III Constellation with Successful SV-10 Deployment
On April 21, 2026, the U.S. Space Force launched the SV‑10 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, marking the final satellite of the GPS III Block III modernization effort. The launch completed a ten‑satellite constellation that now totals 32 operational GPS III satellites, delivering...
+20 Industry & Civil Society Organisations Call on the EU to Include All Departing Flights in the EU Carbon Market
A coalition of 20 NGOs, unions and industry groups has urged the European Commission to broaden the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to cover all flights departing from Europe. Currently, about 70% of EU aviation CO₂ emissions remain outside the...
Aviation’s Decarbonization Bet Is Looking Shakier Than Ever
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was touted as a hedge against soaring jet‑fuel prices, but the Middle‑East conflict has driven fuel costs to more than double in a month, exposing the industry's reliance on volatile fossil supplies. SAF now accounts for...
Trump’s $1.9 Trillion Defence Budget Includes Ships, Jets and Golden Dome
The Pentagon unveiled President Trump’s FY2027 defence budget request of $1.5 trillion (≈S$1.9 trillion), the biggest year‑over‑year increase since World War II. A new "presidential priorities" line funds Golden Dome missile defence, AI, data infrastructure and the defence industrial base. The proposal allocates...
Australia Successfully Test-Fired Its First Locally Produced GMLRS Missile
Australia test‑fired its first domestically produced Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) from a HIMARS launcher at the Woomera Test Range on April 9. The missile, built by Lockheed Martin Australia and partners, meets U.S. specifications, carries a 91 kg high‑explosive warhead...