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
Air Force’s Experimental Ops Unit Flies and Maintains Anduril CCA
The Air Force’s new Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) flew Anduril Industries’ YFQ‑44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) from Edwards AFB, with Airmen—not engineers or test pilots—controlling each sortie. The exercise proved that a handful of maintainers can sustain semi‑autonomous drones, accelerating the service’s goal of fielding at least 1,000 CCAs. By integrating the YFQ‑44A with existing fighter concepts, the Air Force demonstrated how CCAs can extend the reach of F‑22 and F‑35 platforms at lower cost and risk. The test also generated early tactics, techniques, and procedures for future operational deployment.
XTI Aerospace Posts $121.6M FY 2025 Revenue, Guides $160M+ 2026 After $40M Drone Nerds Deal
XTI Aerospace announced FY 2025 revenue of $121.6 million and Q4 revenue of $22.5 million, highlighted a $40 million acquisition of Drone Nerds and a $25 million strategic investment from Unusual Machines. The company now expects 2026 revenue of at least $160 million, underscoring a...
NASA Shifts Mobile Launcher 1 to VAB Ahead of Artemis III
NASA moved Mobile Launcher 1 from Launch Pad 39B to the Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building on April 16, 2026, marking a key step in preparing for the Artemis III lunar mission. The 4‑mile trek on crawler‑transporter 2 follows the Artemis II flight and precedes...
Space-Based Missile Defense May Cost Too Much for Golden Dome’s 12-Figure Spending Plan
Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein told the House Armed Services Committee that boost‑phase space interceptors, a centerpiece of the Golden Dome missile‑defense plan, are unlikely to be affordable at scale. The program’s budget has swelled to roughly $185 billion, with a...
No FAA Decision by May 1 on Extending 777F Classic Production
Boeing’s request for a Federal Aviation Administration exemption to keep building the 777F Classic freighter past Dec. 31, 2027 will not be decided by the May 1 deadline it sought. The airline wants to produce 35 more 777Fs powered by legacy GE90 engines...
The First Woman And First Person Of Color Just Went To The Moon
NASA’s Artemis program successfully landed the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, marking a historic milestone for human spaceflight. The achievement came after the Trump administration removed the “first woman and first person of color”...
TUI Airways and Virgin Atlantic Lead Strong UK Showing in Global Airline Emissions Rankings
UK carriers topped Cirium’s 2025 EmeraldSky emissions review, with TUI Airways securing third place globally and Virgin Atlantic seventh. TUI logged a low 53.6 g CO₂ per available seat kilometre, while Virgin led the transatlantic category. The rankings highlight the impact...
When Words Can’t Express The Wonders You’ve Seen
Keith Cowing, former NASA employee and founder of NASA Watch, reflected on a once‑in‑a‑lifetime moment when he and astronaut Scott Parazynski displayed four Apollo 11 moon rocks at the base of Mt. Everest. The anecdote resurfaced during a BBC World interview with astronaut...
Orbiting Needs Speed, Not Height: Artemis II Curve Explained
Why does the @nasa Artemis II curve so much on launch? Getting into orbit is more about going fast than going up. For low Earth orbit, it's over 80 percent kinetic energy. https://www.instagram.com/p/DXMmMxrAOtJ/?img_index=1
Potential Space Florida Deal for 'Project Jaguar' Could Be First to Use New Spaceport PABs
Space Florida is preparing a conduit financing package for the confidential "Project Jaguar," authorizing up to $235 million in taxable and tax‑exempt bonds. The deal would be the first to employ private‑activity bonds (PABs) for a spaceport under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,...
U.S. Army Names New MV-75 Tiltrotor 'Cheyenne II'
The U.S. Army officially designated Bell's next‑generation tiltrotor as the MV‑75 “Cheyenne II.” The aircraft is intended to replace aging UH‑60 Black Hawks and supplement the V‑22 Osprey in utility and assault roles. The program targets an initial operating capability by...
Production Of AH-64 Apache’s New Counter-Drone Cannon Shell Ammunition Ramping-Up
The U.S. Army is accelerating procurement of the XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) 30mm rounds for its AH‑64 Apache helicopters, aiming to boost counter‑drone capability. Northrop Grumman has produced 1,000 rounds this month and intends to scale output up to...
Vertical Hits Major eVTOL Milestone With Two-Way Flight
Vertical Aerospace announced that its VX4 prototype achieved the first piloted two‑way transition flight outside the United States. On 14 April 2026 at Cotswold Airport, chief test pilot Simon Davies switched the eVTOL from helicopter mode to fixed‑wing flight and back again....
Starlink Outage Hit Drone Tests, Exposing Pentagon’s Growing Reliance on SpaceX
In August 2024 a global Starlink outage crippled two dozen U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessels off California, halting communications for about an hour. Internal Navy documents show the outage exposed a single point of failure for the Pentagon’s autonomous drone...
“World’s First Dedicated eVTOL Commercial Vertiport Is Now Completed – in Dubai”
Joby Aviation announced the completion of the world’s first dedicated eVTOL commercial vertiport adjacent to Dubai International Airport. The four‑story, 3,100 sqm facility includes two landing pads, a two‑level car park, climate‑controlled passenger areas and charging infrastructure, designed to handle up...
Lufthansa Group Accelerates Fleet Reductions Amidst Soaring Fuel Prices and Labor Disputes
Lufthansa Group announced an accelerated fleet reduction plan to counter soaring fuel costs and ongoing labor disputes. The entire Lufthansa CityLine fleet, comprising 15 CRJ‑900s and a dozen Airbus A319s, will be withdrawn on 18 April. By the end of the...
USMC Tests TRV-150C Resupply Aircraft System Aboard Amphibious Ship
The U.S. Marine Corps has finished shipboard trials of the TRV‑150C tactical resupply uncrewed aircraft system aboard an amphibious transport dock. Over two weeks at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Marines launched and recovered the drone multiple times, proving cargo...
Northrop Grumman Receives $475m Contract to Accelerate GPI Programme
Northrop Grumman has secured an additional $475.3 million from the Missile Defense Agency to speed up its Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) program, pushing total investment past $1.3 billion. The funding, awarded under a Prototype Project Other Transaction Agreement, targets a Preliminary Design...
Lufthansa Cuts Fleet as Fuel Shock Bites
Lufthansa Group accelerated its fleet‑reduction plan on April 16, pulling 27 CityLine CRJ regional jets from service within two days as jet fuel prices surged amid the Iran conflict. The package also schedules the grounding of six intercontinental aircraft—including the...
Air Travel Demand Holds, But Cracks Are Emerging
U.S. airline traffic has rebounded past pre‑pandemic levels, yet the passenger‑per‑flight ratio is slipping below 2019, hinting at waning elasticity among average travelers. Delta’s CEO emphasized that premium customers remain largely insulated from geopolitical headlines, and data shows they contribute...
Iran’s F-4 Phantom Escorts Asim Munir to Tehran — Relic Aircraft Once Used by USAF as Target Drone
Iran’s air force deployed a vintage F‑4 Phantom II to escort Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s aircraft into Tehran on April 15, underscoring Tehran’s remaining Cold‑War‑era air capability. The visit coincides with fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire talks and a push for...
November Takeoff: PAL Adds Chicago to US Network
Philippine Airlines (PAL) will launch nonstop Manila‑Chicago service on Nov. 9, operating three times weekly with Airbus A350‑900 aircraft. The route marks PAL’s eighth US destination, expanding its trans‑Pacific footprint and adding direct access to the Midwest. Introductory economy fares start at...
Experimental Operations Unit Accelerates Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program
The Air Force’s Experimental Operations Unit (EOP) wrapped up a pivotal exercise with the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) at Edwards Air Force Base. The drill united test authorities from Air Force Materiel Command with operational leaders from Air Combat Command,...
GE Aerospace and HAL Advance Joint F414 Jet Engine Production in India
GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) have reached a decisive step in finalising a partnership to co‑produce the F414 fighter‑jet engine in India. The agreement aims to supply power for the IAF's upcoming Tejas Mk2 and future combat aircraft,...
Blue Origin New Glenn 3 Has a Good Static Fire
Blue Origin successfully completed a static‑fire test of New Glenn 3 and is eyeing a Saturday or Sunday launch of the second commercial AST SpaceMobile direct‑to‑cellphone (DTC) satellite. AST SpaceMobile needs 40‑60 operational satellites to begin intermittent service and aims to have roughly 240...
Delhi Airport Ground Collision Grounds Two Boeing 737s
Today’s ground collision at Delhi Airport.. SpiceJet’s Boeing 737-700 (VT-SLB, flight SG-124 from Leh) was taxiing toward the parking bay at Terminal 1 when its right winglet struck the left horizontal stabiliser of a stationary Akasa Air Boeing 737-8 MAX (VT-YBA)...
Lightweight 8 kW/Kg Motor Powers Hydrogen Hybrid Aircraft
The 12.5kg gas cylinder-sized motor achieves 8 kW per kilogram with a fault-tolerant design, targeting hydrogen hybrid regional aircraft under Project AMBER. https://t.co/vk6CdOCVvD
L3Harris Technologies Plans $1.3B Solid Rocket Motor Expansion in Virginia
L3Harris Technologies announced a $1.3 billion expansion of its solid‑rocket‑motor (SRM) manufacturing campus in Orange County, Virginia, which will more than double production space and create over 350 jobs. The effort builds on a $41.2 million upgrade launched earlier this year and...
Iran Conflict Forces Lufthansa, Nigerian Airlines to Halt Flights
Lufthansa grounds planes, Nigerian carriers threaten to stop flying as Iran war strains show https://t.co/FeDiVpr1tN
Boeing Adds 100+ Workers Weekly to Ramp Production
Boeing hiring more than 100 factory workers a week to boost output, replace retirees https://t.co/vAInvCnHXf
Ofcom Clears VodafoneThree for Direct-to-Device Satellite Mobile Service
Ofcom has approved VodafoneThree’s request to amend its spectrum licence, allowing the merged carrier to deliver direct‑to‑device satellite connectivity for voice, SMS and data on ordinary smartphones. The move follows similar approvals for O2 and a pending handset‑rule update, signaling...
ITAR Restrictions Pose Risk, Not Deal‑Breaker, $100M Spend Continues
.@Thales_Alenia_S: US #ITAR, #DPAS space tech export restrictions are a risk, not a showstopper. We still spend $100M or more per year on US components. @voyagertech_ @SpaceSymposium @Starlab_Space.https://t.co/GsZ51fq6T8 https://t.co/UfdSaAZ784
Army Looks to Drone Tankers for Cheyenne II Refuel
Army Eyes Drone Tankers To Refuel Its New MV-75 Cheyenne II Tiltrotors The Army and Bell have pointed to the U.S. Navy's MQ-25 Stingray drone tanker as an example of what could be on the horizon. https://t.co/e6RXASGLjJ
EarthDaily CEO Discusses the Launch of Commercial Operations and Daily Data Capabilities
EarthDaily, a Vancouver‑based EO and analytics firm, is scaling to a full 10‑satellite constellation and will begin commercial data services in September 2025. The first satellite, launched in June 2025, has validated the platform, with six more slated for May...
Starship V3 Set for First Test Flight Soon
Starship V3 booster & ship will be ready for their first test flight in a few weeks
Army Boosts Apache Counter‑Drone Ammo Production Five‑Fold
Production Of AH-64 Apache’s New Counter-Drone Cannon Shell Ammunition Ramping-Up The Army anticipates a five-fold increase in procurement of the XM1225 APEX ammo. https://t.co/eABBd8PWdH
Europe to Face Fuel Shortage? Energy Agency Head Warns ‘Maybe 6 Weeks of Jet Fuel Left’ — Here's All We...
IEA executive Fatih Birol warned that Europe may have only six weeks of jet fuel left as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked by Iran. The closure, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments, is already tightening supplies of...
Mobile Launcher Returns to VAB for Artemis III Prep
The Mobile Launcher is on its way back to the VAB today to start getting ready for Artemis III. Departed the pad at 8:11 am ET. https://t.co/ZeDzYf5S67
NASA Greenlights ROSA Support for ExoMars Rover
NASA has given approval for the Rosalind Franklin Support and Augmentation (ROSA) project to begin implementation. This is the addl support NASA is providing to ESA to get the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover w/drill to Mars. https://t.co/mBPdDblJzg
Lufthansa Shutters Short-Haul Airline Where Flight Attendants Have Been On Strike With Immediate Effect
German carrier Lufthansa announced the immediate shutdown of its short‑haul subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine, accelerating a pre‑planned phase‑out. The closure removes 27 CRJ aircraft and transfers crews to the lower‑cost Lufthansa City Airlines, where pay and benefits are reduced. The move...
Starlink Fixed Internet Now Rivals Cable Services
"I think increasingly Starlink’s fixed internet service is capable enough that it can provide a comparable service to some cable internet options and could become a direct competitor to some cable, DSL or copper ... services,” thanks @rcrwirelessnews ! https://t.co/vgp8DLQuCp
L3Harrisons Pitches Wolf Pack Mini-Cruise Missiles for Army Rotorcraft
Wolf Pack Modular Mini Cruise Missiles Pitched For Apache, Black Hawk Already building launched effects vehicles for the Marine Corps, L3Harries now wants to bring these capabilities to U.S. Army rotorcraft. https://t.co/qSuzbShYHY
Spirit Airlines Could Shut Down Imminently, Reports Say — Here's What to Do if You're Scheduled to Fly with Them
Spirit Airlines faces imminent liquidation, with reports suggesting it could cease operations within days as jet fuel costs surge. The ultra‑low‑cost carrier has been cash‑strapped since the pandemic and filed for bankruptcy twice since late 2024, most recently in August....
Airline CEOs Urged by Lawmaker to Lower Fares if Fuel Prices Come Down
U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres wrote to the CEOs of Delta, United, JetBlue and Southwest urging them to lower fares if jet‑fuel prices retreat from recent highs. Jet fuel has surged to $4.88 per gallon, about a 95% increase since the...
Delta Expands Green Bay Service Ahead of Major College Football Weekend
Delta Air Lines is adding nonstop service from New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport to Green Bay’s Austin Straubel International Airport for September 5‑7, 2026. The flights are timed to accommodate the high‑profile Wisconsin‑Notre Dame matchup at Lambeau Field...
NASA Bets on Blue Origin for Lunar Victory
For the first time, but probably not the last, NASA and the United States are counting on Blue Origin to deliver a meaningful win on the Moon. https://t.co/lBZt9oTdXy
IATA Calls on Regulators to Suspend Airport Slot Rules During Middle East Crisis
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is urging governments to temporarily suspend the 80/20 airport slot utilisation rule by invoking the Justified Non‑Use of Slots (JNUS) exemption. The request targets a rolling six‑week period to accommodate airlines unable to meet...
First U.S. ‘Runway-to-Space’ Challenge for Spaceplane Payload Test Flights, Flying From Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport
The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) and Dawn Aerospace have launched the Runway-to-Space Spaceplane Challenge, inviting Oklahoma‑based universities and research institutions to fly payloads on Dawn’s Aurora suborbital spaceplane from the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport. The competition will fund...
ACN Awards: Enter the Air Cargo Pharma Category
The Air Cargo News (ACN) Awards have launched a new Air Cargo Pharma category, sponsored by Hong Kong handler Hactl, inviting entries from any air‑cargo stakeholder that introduced an innovative pharmaceutical transport solution in the past year. The competition, part of...
CIRA Tests Space Rider Reentry Performance with Damaged Heat Shield
The Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) successfully tested Space Rider’s thermal protection system after deliberately damaging a body‑flap with a high‑velocity impact and exposing it to 1,200 °C plasma for over 600 seconds. The ISiComp ceramic‑composite material retained its dimensions, proving resilience...