Know What's Happening in Aerospace
Know What's Happening in Aerospace
NASA faces steep FY2027 budget cuts, overall funding slashed to $11B
The White House’s FY2027 budget request proposes a 23% reduction to NASA’s total budget, bringing it down to roughly $11 billion. The Science Mission Directorate would see a 47% cut, dropping from $7.25 billion to about $3.9 billion.
Geostationary satellite operators are confronting a paradigm shift as the traditional 6‑tonne GEO platform loses its economic appeal. SES, now the world’s largest GEO fleet after acquiring Intelsat, announced it will replace most of its 100‑satellite roster with sub‑1000 kg “HummingSat” units starting in 2027. Eutelsat echoed the trend by cancelling its €100 million FlexSat America project, citing eroding demand from proliferating LEO constellations and declining DTH revenues. The move signals a broader industry pivot toward smaller, cheaper, and more flexible GEO assets.
Asia‑Pacific space agencies, from giants like CNSA and ISRO to emerging programs in Indonesia and Peru, are rapidly expanding capabilities across human spaceflight, lunar exploration, and Earth observation. Government bodies are bolstered by growing private‑sector participation, delivering cost‑effective launch services...
Australia’s Powerhouse Museum is offering a final chance for citizens to record a voice message for deep‑space broadcast in honor of Voyager’s 50th anniversary. The HUMANS (Humanity United with MIT Art and Nanotechnology in Space) project, which already has more...
The Asia‑Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) is an intergovernmental body headquartered in Beijing that unites eight member states and several observers to pool satellite resources, data, and expertise. Since its launch in 2008, APSCO has facilitated shared satellite constellations, a...
An FAA report predicts someone will die roughly every 2 years due to incoming space debris. This research could save lives by forecasting danger zones.
The $1.5 billion NISAR satellite, a joint NASA‑ISRO venture, showcases the deepening U.S.–India space partnership. India’s Make‑in‑India agenda is accelerating indigenous defense‑related space capabilities, from ISR payloads to resilient communications. Meanwhile, China’s anti‑satellite tests and Pakistan’s growing space ties heighten regional...
NASA had slated a no‑earlier‑than‑March 6 launch for Artemis II, but an unexpected interruption in helium flow through the Space Launch System’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage forced the agency to consider rolling the rocket and Orion spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly...
SpaceX launched 25 additional Starlink satellites from Vandenberg aboard a Falcon 9, marking the booster B1063’s 31st flight and successful drone‑ship landing. The launch pushes SpaceX’s 2026 tally to 21 missions, outpacing all other providers combined. Reuse statistics place the B1063...
Frontier Airlines is cutting nine of its ten routes that serve New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, leaving only a daily flight to Atlanta. The eliminated city pairs include Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, San Juan and Tampa, with cancellations...
Evolito Limited has been chosen to create an electric wheel‑taxi system under the UK‑backed Project SONATA, partnering with Airbus, ATI, Innovate UK and several research institutions. The company will supply a low‑speed, high‑torque axial‑flux motor delivering roughly 350 kW and 56 Nm/kg, designed to...
Big one from Emirates.... they’re retiring the 615-seat A380 layout (world’s highest capacity passenger jet) on all 15 of those high density frames. The 58 Business + 557 Economy setup that packed them in is done. Starting with the first ones...
Weather still has a very significant effect. Ukrainian fighter aircraft , helicopters, and UAV interceptors were all less effective countering Shaheds over the winter because of the weather. The fiber optic cables on FPVs often fail because of the cold....
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer and Adani Defence & Aerospace have signed an enhanced MoU to set up a final assembly line for the E175 regional jet in India. The venture aims to tap an estimated demand for 500 aircraft in...
![[COPY] The Airline Data Project](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EbGB!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fadf49adc-855d-48a5-a2c3-d954f8c43585_1280x1280.png)
The episode delves into the Airline Data Project, an expansion of MIT's original dataset, now covering U.S. airline operations from 2017 onward. It explains how the project aggregates flight schedules, performance metrics, and financial data to enable rigorous research and...
U.S. Forces Korea deployed F‑16 fighter jets for a rare training sortie over the Yellow Sea, prompting a rapid response from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Chinese pilots scrambled their own jets, resulting in a brief mid‑air standoff that...
American Airlines is rolling out digital self‑service options for checked baggage across its website, mobile app, and airport kiosks. Customers can now prepay for up to three bags at booking, make same‑day changes without agent assistance, and receive automatic refunds...
Lufthansa is retrofitting 38 Airbus A320s with Geven ergonomic seats, larger overhead bins and dual USB‑A/USB‑C ports, bringing short‑haul cabins in line with its long‑haul product standards. The new bins are 40% larger, allowing vertical luggage stowage and faster boarding....
The Lunar Gateway, a planned orbiting space station, is a cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis program, intended to support crewed lunar missions, scientific research, and technology testing for future Mars trips. Although most international hardware has already been built and is...
Researchers at Newcastle University have unveiled FlightScope, a low‑cost, rugged microscope capable of real‑time cell imaging in zero‑gravity environments. Built on an open‑source Stanford design, the instrument costs under $5,000 and includes vibration damping and microfluidic handling for parabolic flights....
The Defense Innovation Unit’s Hypersonic High‑Cadence Advanced Testing (HyCAT) program is preparing its second flight, slated for late February, to launch the Australian‑built DART AE scramjet testbed aboard Rocket Lab’s HASTE sub‑orbital launcher. The mission will fly from Wallops Island...
The U.S. Army posted, then swiftly removed, official photographs of its Dark Eagle Long‑Range Hypersonic Weapon, allowing the images to circulate online before any explanation was offered. Dark Eagle is a mobile boost‑glide system capable of Mach 5+ speeds, designed to...
Myanmar last night... MNA ATR-72-600 got hit by FPV suicide drone(s) at Myitkyina Airport while boarding for Mandalay. Minor shrapnel damage reported, but crucially no passengers or crew hurt. KIA/PDF coalition named by authorities.
Updated with Isaacman's clarification that March definitiely is off the table and they will roll back to the VAB. Artemis II Delayed Due to Upper Stage Problem https://t.co/r8yzfcIJ9Q
A U.S. DOT Office of Inspector General report criticizes the FAA for using virtual inspections to oversee United Airlines’ maintenance during a 2024 safety probe. The audit found the FAA’s Certificate Management Office was severely understaffed, with 33% of positions...
We might be looking at April for Artemis II. Rollback to the VAB for the SLS rocket is on the table.
Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Iran ordered 110 Boeing jets — 80 for Iran Air (77W, 777-9, 737 MAX) & 30 737 MAX for Aseman signed in 2016–17…deal value $20 billion at list prices After Trump admin withdrew Iran deal...
The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $43.5 million contract modification on Feb 20 2026 to recapitalize Patriot PAC‑3 launchers, raising the program’s cumulative value to $223 million. The award funds product‑assurance activities, testing, and lifecycle upgrades aimed at extending launcher service life. Work will...
LAUNCH at 0904 UTC Feb 21 of Starlink Group 17-25 from Vandenberg Space Force Base
NASA just said there's a problem with the SLS upper stage and they may have to roll back to the VAB. https://t.co/jS1avhZOkR
SpaceX’s V2‑Mini Starlink launches create a temporary “satellite train” of 20‑23 bright objects that streak across the sky for 24‑48 hours before dispersing. Launch cadence in winter 2025‑2026 reaches one mission every 3‑4 days, giving observers frequent but brief viewing...
Bad news for Artemis 2: "NASA is taking steps to potentially roll back the Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building… This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window." https://t.co/rS2SqwVMwD
I think this is an additional argument for purchasing Ukrainian FPVs and other UAVs. Ukrainian companies update their UAVs regularly to meet the changing requirements on the battlefield and Russian adaptations. Makes sense for NATO members to benefit from these...
Tory Bruno, former ULA chief, left the company to become president of Blue Origin’s new national‑security group, citing an urgent need for dynamic space operations and missile‑defense capabilities. He believes ULA’s Vulcan rocket is now mature, allowing him to focus...
F-16s Heading To Middle East Equipped With Angry Kitten Electronic Warfare Pods The Angry Kitten pods will give the fourth-generation fighters often tasked with the Wild Weasel missions much-needed extra protection. https://t.co/MR26YH0w6Z
NASA announced that the 2024 Boeing Starliner crewed flight test has been classified as a Type A mishap, the same designation used for the Challenger and Columbia disasters. The mishap stemmed from thruster failures, Boeing propulsion design flaws, and NASA’s overly...
Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Infantry Division won the Best Innovation award at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition in Huntsville, Alabama. Their Project RED system employs AI and a 3D‑printed carbon‑fiber claw to locate, retrieve,...
Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) was named the 2025 Best Overall Non‑hub Airport in the United States by Swelbar‑Zhong Consultancy, a leading aviation research firm. The award recognizes GRB’s superior air‑service options, high‑quality passenger experience, strong financial performance, and...
Norfolk International Airport unveiled a new two‑story, 26,000‑square‑foot Federal Inspection Services (FIS) building, designed to streamline customs and baggage handling. The $31 million project, funded partly by $13.5 million in federal aid, features floor‑to‑ceiling windows, an open floorplan, and a dedicated Global...
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has issued a solicitation for commercial space‑to‑space imaging solutions to monitor satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO). The contract calls for a minimum viable product delivering high‑resolution electro‑optical images within two years, enabling object identification and...
The post shares three space‑related items: Starlab’s full‑scale mock‑up displayed at Johnson Space Center, a reminder that Atlantis delivered the Destiny module to the ISS 25 years ago after three spacewalks, and the launch of Robert Zimmerman’s book *Genesis: the...
On Feb. 18 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toured Boeing’s St. Louis site as RTX’s Pratt & Whitney announced it will fast‑track the XA103 engine for the upcoming F‑47 sixth‑generation stealth fighter, with detailed design review completed and a prototype slated for...
Project OVERMATCH - how one company is scaling up production of #drones in the UK #avgeek https://t.co/sEEOjJQprt https://t.co/PjEtX67uHA
Sunrise Dominicana, a Dominican carrier certified in 2025, has filed a request with the U.S. Department of Transportation for a five‑year exemption to operate scheduled and charter flights between the Dominican Republic and the United States. The airline plans to...
Researchers led by David Bamidele Olawade reviewed sustainable water systems for space habitats. They note that the ISS’s Environmental Control and Life Support System already recovers 93% of water from urine, sweat and humidity but still faces power, durability and...
Japanese Ministry of Defense awarded imagery contracts to Axelspace and Synspective as part of its privately‑run satellite constellation. Axelspace will supply optical data under a 48 billion‑yen ($310 million) deal, while Synspective will provide SAR imagery for 105.6 billion yen ($681 million). The contracts,...
Airbus recorded a $500 million impairment on its A220 program as the aircraft’s production ramp slowed and order growth lagged expectations. The write‑down reflects weaker cash‑flow projections and higher unit costs, casting doubt on the A220’s earnings contribution. CEO Guillaume Faury remains...
On 7 December 2023 a Beech 35‑C33 Debonair crashed in Tennessee, killing the private pilot known as “TNflygirl” and her father. The pilot, a YouTube creator documenting her flight‑training journey, had 390 total flight hours—about 200 in the Debonair—but had not demonstrated...
India’s space agency ISRO is in talks with NASA to conduct an uncrewed docking of the Gaganyaan orbital module to the International Space Station. The agreement would include extensive astronaut and ground‑crew training, as well as joint work on docking,...
Japan’s Kobe Airport has launched a new international terminal, shifting from a domestic‑only facility to a regional gateway linking the Kansai area with major Asian cities such as Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei. The terminal incorporates SITA’s Flex Essentials platform, common‑use...
Small UAV - with big capabilities - how @Tekever is taking modular #drones to the next level with its AR3 EVO #avgeek #defence https://t.co/9hbPLZEY4l https://t.co/Or8fywIuXn
