NASA's Twin Voyager Spacecraft Are Very Low on Power After Nearly 50 Years. How Long Can They Keep Going?
NASA’s twin Voyager probes, launched in 1977, are now operating on roughly half their original 470‑watt power output, leaving only a few instruments active. A risky engineering maneuver dubbed the “Big Bang,” scheduled for mid‑2026, will swap heater devices to shave about 10 watts of consumption, potentially extending science operations by at least one year. If successful, the spacecraft could continue transmitting data into the 2030s and possibly reach 200 astronomical units from Earth. However, the dwindling power margin and aging hardware mean the mission’s end is approaching.
Muon Space Scales Workforce Following Transition to Constellation-Scale Manufacturing
Muon Space, fresh from a $146 million Series B round and high‑value defense contracts, is scaling its workforce to shift from custom satellite builds to a mass‑production "Mission Foundry" model. The company opened a 130,000‑square‑foot San Jose facility capable of delivering up...
India Successfully Tests Agni Missile Equipped With MIRV System
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested an Agni ballistic missile equipped with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re‑entry Vehicle (MIRV) system on 8 May 2026 from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island. The trial achieved all mission objectives, demonstrating the missile’s ability to deploy...
Turkey Signs Contract for 20 KAAN Fighter Jets
Turkey has signed a definitive procurement contract for 20 KAAN Block‑10 fifth‑generation fighter jets, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and the end of 2030. The aircraft, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), features twin engines, a Mach 1.8 top speed, a...
U.S. Air Force Pushes Hypersonic Structures Research with $9M Grant
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has granted ARCTOS Technology Solutions a $9 million contract to advance aerothermoelastic structures for hypersonic air‑breathing vehicles. The five‑year effort, running through June 2031, will be conducted at ARCTOS’s Beavercreek, Ohio site and Wright‑Paterson AFB. The...
U.S. Awards Lockheed $407M to Advance Aegis Missile Defense in Guam
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency awarded Lockheed Martin a $407 million contract modification to continue engineering and development of the Aegis Guam System through December 2029. The award lifts the total value of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Weapon Systems contract to...
Poland’s F-35 Fighter Fleet Keeps Growing: 12 Done, 4 More Coming
Poland has completed ground and flight testing on its twelfth F‑35A, with four additional aircraft nearing the end of production at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant. All 32 jets, part of a $4.6 billion deal signed in 2020, will be stationed at...
Frontier Air Reports Hitting a Person on the Runway at Denver International Airport
On May 9, 2026, Frontier Airlines Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 bound for Los Angeles, aborted take‑off from Denver International Airport after striking a person on runway 17L. The impact caused a brief engine fire that was quickly extinguished, and the runway was closed for...
U.S. Firm Supplied 200-Plus Penguin Drones to Ukraine
Redwire has supplied more than 200 Penguin uncrewed aerial systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2022, marking one of the few public tallies of a Western drone platform in the conflict. The Penguin C was explicitly listed in U.S. security‑assistance...
Singapore Airlines Huge Growth: Record 128 Weekly Flights To Europe For 2026
Singapore Airlines announced a record 128 weekly flights to Europe for the winter of 2026, covering 15 European cities. The schedule adds eight new weekly services, introduces direct flights to Barcelona and a tagging service to Madrid, and boosts the...
5 Aircraft That Pilots Trust The Most
The article surveys the aircraft that pilots consistently rate as the most dependable, ranging from the Cessna 172 Skyhawk used in flight training to the Boeing 777‑300ER in long‑haul service. It highlights concrete safety and reliability metrics, such as the Skyhawk’s 0.56...
Vietnam Slated to Order BrahMos and Naval Vessels From India
Vietnam announced plans to purchase three to four Indian offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and 14 high‑speed patrol boats, a deal valued at roughly $300 million under a broader $500 million defence line of credit from India. An additional $200 million is being considered...
Life Aboard the International Space Station: How Astronauts Eat, Sleep, Work, and Stay Healthy
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station live on a tightly coordinated 24‑hour schedule that blends scientific research, system maintenance, exercise, meals, sleep, and personal time. Microgravity forces redesign of everyday actions—food is packaged to avoid crumbs, water forms floating blobs,...
Jiatai Earns Airbus Quality Champion Award at 2026 Supplier Symposium
Jiatai Aircraft Equipment Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of AVIC Cabin Systems, was named the sole Airbus China Quality Champion at the 2026 Airbus China Suppliers Symposium. The award highlights Jiatai's excellence in product quality, delivery reliability, and collaborative supply‑chain performance....
NASA Keeps Track As Mexico City Sinks Into the Ground
NASA’s NISAR satellite is now delivering weekly, centimeter‑scale radar maps that track Mexico City’s ongoing subsidence. The capital, built on a former lake bed, is sinking up to 2 cm per month as groundwater extraction compacts soft clay soils. NISAR’s ability...
China “Child Tested” J-10C Jets in India Clash: Chinese Designers Reveal On-Site Role as Pakistan Claimed Rafale Kills
China has officially confirmed that Chinese engineers and support staff were stationed on Pakistani air bases during the four‑day conflict with India in May 2025, providing real‑time intelligence and technical assistance for the J‑10CE and JF‑17 fighters. Pakistan claims the...
Blue Moon Mark 1 Live: Blue Origin Begins NASA Center Lander Tests
Blue Origin has started physical testing of its first lunar lander, Blue Moon Mark 1, at multiple NASA facilities across the United States. The test programme is intended to verify the vehicle’s propulsion, navigation and landing systems ahead of a cargo‑delivery mission slated...
USS Cobia – Its History and Future
Robert Zimmerman’s “Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8” recounts the historic 1968 mission that first took humans around another world. The book is now available in hardback, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats, with autographed copies priced at $60 for hardback and...
The US Navy’s Next Supercarriers Face Lengthy Delays
The U.S. Navy’s newest supercarriers are slipping further behind schedule, with CVN‑78 delivered 2½ years late and still awaiting upgrades for the F‑35C. CVN‑79’s handover has shifted to March 2027, while CVN‑80 now faces a March 2031 delivery, an eight‑month slip from...
Booster 19 Completes Static Fire as Ship 39 Prepares for Rollout
SpaceX successfully performed a full‑duration, full‑thrust static fire of Booster 19’s 33 Raptor 3 engines on May 7, 2026, marking the first liftoff‑level test on the new Pad 2. The test demonstrated the upgraded deluge system’s ability to manage the immense energy release, while...
Airlines Want Reimbursement for Retrofitting Gear After Upper C-Band Auction
Airlines for America is urging the FCC to reimburse the $4.5 billion cost of retrofitting 58,000 aircraft altimeters needed to protect against interference from the upcoming upper C‑band 5G auction. The FCC must auction at least 100 MHz of the 3.98‑4.2 GHz band...
Pentagon Unveils Trove of Declassfied 'UFO' Videos. How to See Them All, From 'a Football-Shaped Body' To 'a Misshapen and...
The Pentagon released 161 declassified UAP files on May 8, 2026, including nearly 30 videos captured by infrared sensors and full‑motion cameras. The material, prompted by a Trump‑era directive, spans reports, astronaut testimonies, and footage showing football‑shaped objects, white‑light balls, and...
After the B-52? Air Force to Study More Heavy Bomber Options
The U.S. Air Force is initiating a Heavy Bomber Analysis of Alternatives to chart the next generation of long‑range strike platforms as the B‑52 Stratofortress approaches its 2050s service horizon. The study, funded with a $1 million request for FY 2027, follows...
EU Authorizes Use of US Jet Fuel to Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions
The European Commission has issued guidance allowing U.S.-produced Jet A aviation fuel to be used in Europe as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, tightening global energy supplies. The move, cleared by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA),...
Swift Reboost Mission Completes Environmental Tests
NASA and Katalyst Space announced that the Link spacecraft, built to grapple and re‑boost the aging Swift gamma‑ray observatory, has cleared a full suite of environmental tests at Goddard. The tests included launch‑vibration, thermal‑vacuum cycling, robotic‑arm deployment and electric‑thruster firings....
This Major Airline Is Finally Letting You Make Calls at 30,000 Feet
British Airways has partnered with SpaceX’s Starlink to install satellite‑based broadband on its fleet, enabling free voice and video calls at cruising altitude. The rollout, involving structural modifications and software integration, will span two years and deliver speeds up to...
Manna – Embedded Engineer- Aircraft
Manna is developing aviation‑grade drones to provide high‑speed, affordable, and green suburban deliveries of food, coffee, groceries and more. The company designs both the hardware and the embedded software that powers its fleet, targeting delivery within minutes from local stores....
Greek Government Taps Planet for New Satellite Data Deal
Planet Labs Germany has landed a two‑year, seven‑figure contract—estimated between $1 million and $9 million—with the Greek government. The agreement, brokered through ESA, provides near‑daily medium‑resolution imagery, high‑resolution tasking, and a decade of PlanetScope data to support Greece’s National Satellite Space Project....
Space Control Budget More Than Doubles To About 30 Percent Of Space Force Request
Space Control funding for the U.S. Space Force is set to more than double in FY2027, reaching $21.6 billion, which is about 30% of the service’s total $71 billion budget request. Roughly $19.4 billion of that amount is classified, leaving limited public detail....
Operational AI Is Hitting the Limits of Earth Observation Data
AI models are moving from experimental Earth Observation (EO) datasets to operational deployments that must function across diverse geographies, seasons, and sensor changes. However, satellite imagery suffers from calibration drift, uneven revisit schedules, and fragmented data supply, forcing users to...
Brian Hughes Returns to NASA in Charge of Kennedy and Wallops Launch Operations
Brian Hughes, a former Trump campaign Florida director and brief NASA chief of staff, has been appointed senior director of launch operations overseeing Kennedy Space Center and Wallops Flight Facility. He will not serve as center director but will report...
Drone Test Destroys Historic Solar Plane Solar Impulse 2
On May 4 2026 the Solar Impulse 2, repurposed as an autonomous solar‑drone by Skydweller Aero, crashed into the Gulf of Mexico after a sudden loss of power during a routine test from Stennis International Airport, completely destroying the historic carbon‑fibre airframe. The accident...
Department of the Air Force Announces Homestead ARB as Candidate for Future F-35A Basing
The Department of the Air Force has named Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida as a candidate for future basing of the F‑35A Lightning II. The move aligns with the service’s broader effort to disperse fifth‑generation fighters across the continental...
Department of the Air Force Announces Homestead ARB as Candidate for Future F-35A Basing
The Department of the Air Force announced that Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida has been approved as the candidate location for the next round of F‑35A Lightning II basing. The plan calls for swapping the base’s 24 F‑16 Fighting Falcons...
Axiom Readies for Yearlong Spacesuit Qualification Testing
NASA’s Artemis program relies on Axiom Space to deliver its next‑generation xEMU lunar suits. Axiom has secured a $228.5 million task order to build four suits for Artemis IV and is beginning a year‑long qualification campaign that includes vibration, thermal‑vacuum and lander‑interface...
A Different Kind Of 'Drone Strike': A Passenger Airliner Reported Hitting A Consumer UAV
United Airlines flight 1980 reported a possible collision with a consumer drone at 3,000 feet while approaching San Diego, but post‑flight inspection found no damage and the aircraft landed safely. The incident highlights growing safety concerns as FAA data shows many...
Missile Defense Agency Plans Counter-Hypersonic Test in Fiscal 2027
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced Project Maverick, a fiscal‑2027 test to track and engage a hypersonic glide vehicle using multi‑phenomenology sensors and remote‑engagement tactics. The effort is part of a broader push for near‑term hypersonic defenses while the longer‑term...
Average Monthly Number of Chinese Sorties Falls in Q1
The Mainland Affairs Council reported that the average monthly Chinese military aircraft sorties around Taiwan in Q1 2026 dropped by more than half compared with the early months of President William Lai’s administration. Despite the reduction, the People’s Liberation Army kept...
Higher Fuel Costs + Spirit’s End = Higher Fares
Spirit Airlines, long credited with the “Spirit effect” that shaved up to 17% off fares on 13% of nonstop domestic routes, has ceased operations in the United States. Analysts expect its departure to give rival carriers greater pricing power, especially...
The Cheyenne Regional Airport Board Partners with ADK to Recruit Director of Aviation
The Cheyenne Regional Airport Board has hired ADK Consulting & Executive Search to find a new Director of Aviation, selecting William “Doug” Bullock for the role. Bullock brings over 28 years of aviation leadership, most recently as airport manager at...
Flying Soon? American Airlines Has New Portable Battery Rules - What to Know Before You Go
American Airlines has tightened its in‑flight portable‑charger policy effective May 1, limiting passengers to two power banks no larger than 100 Wh. The devices must remain visible or within reach while in use and cannot be recharged aboard the aircraft. The rule...
Cargo Leads the Way for ACS in Q1
Air Charter Service reported a 35% jump in Q1 revenue to $380 million, propelled primarily by its cargo division. Cargo charters surged 70% year‑over‑year, lifting cargo revenue 41%, while overall charter volumes rose 19%. The firm also saw strong gains in...
Air Force to Field Cruise Missiles on Cargo Plane Pallets in 2027
The Air Force has formalized the Dragon Cart program, which will equip C‑130 and C‑17 cargo aircraft with palletized cruise missiles slated for fielding in 2027. Developed from the Rapid Dragon effort, the system uses a standard airdrop pallet that...
East African Countries Plan Regional Satellite Launch
Ministers from Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda have agreed to move forward with the Northern Corridor Regional Communication and Broadcasting Satellite Initiative (NCRCBSI), a joint effort to launch a satellite that will broaden communication and broadcasting services across East...
Louisiana State Senator: Two Unnamed Aerospace Companies Are Bidding for Major Land Purchase
Louisiana State Senator Bob Hensgens confirmed that two unnamed aerospace companies are in talks with landowners about purchasing a 136,000‑acre (over 200 sq mi) Exxon‑owned parcel on the Gulf Coast. The land, located in Vermilion and Cameron parishes, has been speculated as...
Embraer Reaches All-Time First-Quarter Revenue High in 2026
Embraer reported a record first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $1.4 billion, a 31 percent year‑over‑year increase. The growth was driven primarily by its Defense & Security segment and a resurgence in Commercial Aviation orders. The result marks the highest Q1 revenue in the...
L3Harris to Advance ABMS Digital Infrastructure for US Air Force
L3Harris Technologies has secured a contract to develop key components of a secure, resilient digital infrastructure for the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS). The work focuses on data integration, networking, and real‑time processing to enhance command and...
AF Week in Photos
The Air Force’s “AF Week in Photos” captures a week of diverse operations, from the massive C‑5M Super Galaxy’s global airlift to the sleek F‑35A Lightning II’s demonstration in Chile. It highlights critical training events such as the T‑7A Red Hawk’s...
Marines to Phase Out F/A-18 Maintenance Jobs as Hornet Era Ends
The U.S. Marine Corps will phase out all enlisted jobs tied to the F/A-18 Hornet as it moves to an all‑F‑35 tactical fleet, deactivating the remaining Hornet squadrons by 2030. A MARADMIN outlines that six maintenance specialties—mechanic, avionics and technician...
The Middle East Hub Stress Test: What Airlines Build Now Will Define the Next Decade
The Iran conflict triggered a massive stress test for Gulf aviation, grounding more than half of the 92,000 flights scheduled between February 28 and March 12. Ongoing airspace restrictions now cause over 4,000 daily cancellations, affecting hubs that move roughly 15 % of...