Redwire Names Voyager Subcontractor for DARPA Otter VLEO Mission
Redwire has named Voyager Technologies as a subcontractor for DARPA’s Otter very low Earth orbit (VLEO) mission, tasking Voyager with delivering its Acceleration Measurement System (AMS). The $44 million Phase‑2 contract aims to demonstrate the world’s first air‑breathing spacecraft, which must perform frequent propulsion to counter higher atmospheric drag in VLEO. Voyager’s AMS will provide the precise delta‑V and acceleration data needed for these maneuvers. The hardware draws on more than a decade of flawless performance on NASA missions such as the Magnetospheric Multiscale constellation.
Watching SpaceX’s 12th Starship/Superheavy Orbital Test Flight Today
SpaceX is slated to launch the upgraded Starship/Superheavy on its 12th orbital test flight today, with a launch window opening at 5:30 pm Central. The vehicle will feature next‑generation Raptor engines and a newly built launch pad at Starbase, marking the...
US Air Losses over Iran May Grimly Foreshadow China War Risks
The Congressional Research Service reports that the United States lost or damaged 42 aircraft during the February 2026 Operation Epic Fury campaign against Iran, including four F‑15E fighters, an F‑35A, an A‑10, multiple KC‑135 tankers, an E‑3 AWACS, and 25 drones. Iranian air...
DND and ISED Launch $5.5M in Challenges for Arctic Optical Comms and Quantum Repeaters
Canada’s Department of National Defence and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada have launched two Innovative Solutions Canada challenges totaling about $5.55 million CAD (≈ $4.1 million USD). The DND challenge funds a transportable optical ground station that fits a 20‑foot container, weighs...
DARPA and Northrop Grumman to Launch First US On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Mission This Summer
DARPA and Northrop Grumman are set to launch the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) mission this summer, marking the United States’ first on‑orbit satellite servicing capability. The robotic spacecraft will operate in geosynchronous orbit, performing inspection, repair, refueling and relocation...
NASA Aligns Space Technology Investments with Industry Shortfalls and Ignition Initiative
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate released 40 primary technology focus areas for FY 2026, targeting capabilities needed for sustained lunar infrastructure and deep‑space exploration. The list derives from the 2026 Civil Space Shortfall Ranking, which gathered input from 454 industry, academic...
New Silicon Battery Partnership Targets Longer-Range Drone Delivery
Amprius Technologies and Matternet have formed a strategic partnership to embed Amprius’s silicon‑anode lithium‑ion cells into Matternet’s autonomous M2 delivery drones. The collaboration has already seen the new batteries installed in the M2 platform, which operates in several urban drone...
Lunar Outpost Has Big Plans for the Moon. The New Pegasus Lunar Rover Is Just the Start
Lunar Outpost, a Colorado‑based lunar infrastructure firm, secured $30 million to develop Pegasus, a compact rover that will work alongside its earlier Eagle rover. The company is building a suite of Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rovers, with four missions in...
BETA Technologies Completes Electric Flight Demonstrations Across Florida
BETA Technologies, together with Signature Aviation, Republic Airways and Brickyard Connection, completed three days of electric flight demonstrations at Kissimmee Gateway Airport, following winter tests in Vermont and New York. Pilots flew the ALIA CX300 on up to nine legs...
SOF Week 2026: US Army to Conduct Trials with Mountain Horse’s Containerised Drone Launcher
Mountain Horse Solutions showcased its Containerised Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) at SOF Week 2026, demonstrating a self‑powered, solar‑charged unit that can store, charge, launch and recover drones from any vehicle or platform. The system operates semi‑ or fully autonomously,...
Singapore Airlines Faces Narrow Window to Gain Market Share From Gulf Rivals
Singapore Airlines is expanding its long‑haul Europe network, adding services to Manchester, Milan, Munich, London Gatwick in July and a new Madrid‑Barcelona route in October. The move leverages SIA's strong balance sheet, low debt‑to‑equity ratio and a dual fuel‑hedging program...
GE Aerospace Wins T700 Engine Support Deal for UK Apaches
GE Aerospace secured a three‑year Performance‑Based Logistics contract to support T700‑GE‑T701D engines for the British Army’s AH‑64E Apache fleet at Wattisham Flying Station. Engine repair will be performed by StandardAero in Gosport, while a GE field service representative will be...
GDU Technology Showcases Latest Advances of the UAV Solutions at Drone World Congress 2026
At Drone World Congress 2026, GDU Technology unveiled its next‑generation enterprise UAV lineup, including the foldable S400E, the AI‑powered P200 series, and the vehicle‑mounted K05 system. The showcase highlighted a full ecosystem of smart payloads, autonomous docking stations and edge‑computing...
U.S. Marines Turn UH-1 Helicopter Into a Flying Drone Command Post
U.S. Marines demonstrated a new tactic that turns UH‑1Y Venom helicopters into airborne command posts, relaying control of Neros Archer FPV strike drones from altitude. The relay extends the drone's line‑of‑sight range, allowing it to strike targets beyond what ground operators...
Eurofighter Tranche 4 & Rafale F5: Germany & France Supercharge Their 4.5-Gen Fighters as FCAS Stalls
Germany and France are accelerating upgrades to their 4.5‑generation fighters as the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program stalls. Airbus unveiled the Eurofighter Tranche 4 for Germany, featuring an ECRS AESA radar, upgraded mission computers and the EK electronic‑warfare suite,...
When Soviet Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev Launched to Mir in May 1991, the Country that Sent Him Was Still the USSR;...
Sergei Krikalev launched to the Mir space station in May 1991 as a Soviet cosmonaut and returned in March 1992 after 311 days, by which time the USSR had dissolved, his hometown was renamed Saint Petersburg, and the Baikonur launch site...
Berjaya Air Receives World’s First All-Business ATR 72-600
The provided excerpt contains only navigation elements and thumbnail links from the Business Traveller site, without any substantive article text, author byline, or publication details about Berjaya Air's new ATR 72-600. Consequently, no factual information on the aircraft delivery, specifications,...
Europe Must Make Big Changes to Compete with US, Space Chief Warns
European Space Agency President Josef Aschbacher warned that Europe’s space sector is underfunded, slow, and fragmented compared with the United States. He highlighted that the U.S. accounts for about 60% of global public space funding while Europe contributes only 10%,...
Europe’s Air Connectivity Stalls in 2025 as Airlines Face Mounting Regulatory and Cost Pressures
IATA data show Europe’s airline route network barely grew in 2025, expanding just 1% to 14,797 routes – a net gain of only 154 after 1,281 additions and 1,127 cancellations. The slowdown reflects high operating costs, heavy regulation, and rising...
Hyundai WIA to Build Landing Gear for Vertical Aerospace’s Valo eVTOL
Vertical Aerospace announced a long‑term partnership with Hyundai WIA to develop and manufacture a bespoke landing‑gear system for its Valo electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Hyundai WIA will assume full design‑to‑production responsibility, with UK engineering firm Stirling Dynamics...
UPS MD-11F Crash: Ramifications of Engine Pylon Bearing Failures Not Fully Realised
U.S. investigators have linked the fatal November UPS MD‑11F crash in Louisville to fatigue‑related bearing race failures in the engine‑pylon bulkhead lugs. The NTSB says split bearing races caused stress fractures that detached the left engine pylon during take‑off. Post‑crash...
Canada Spends $1.15B to Upgrade Hercules Fleet
Canada has signed two amendments to its Lockheed Martin CC‑130J contract, committing a total of $1.15 billion to keep the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Hercules fleet operational through the end of the decade. The $462 million amendment extends maintenance and support services...
B-52 Getting a New Pylon to Handle Four Times Heavier Bombs
On May 20, 2026, the U.S. Air Force issued a request for information for an Advanced Wing Weapons Pylon (AWWP) capable of carrying up to 20,000 lb weapons—four times the capacity of the legacy 5,000‑lb pylon. The program targets an initial...
Losses Balloon at Easyjet Despite Seeing ‘No Disruption’ to Jet Fuel Supplies
EasyJet reported a loss of £552 million (about $700 million), up from £394 million last year, despite saying jet‑fuel supplies remain uninterrupted. Forward bookings for the next six months fell 2% year‑on‑year, limiting earnings visibility, while passenger numbers and its holidays division grew...
TEKEVER Selected for Helicopter Autonomous Wingmen Programme
The UK Ministry of Defence has chosen TEKEVER to lead Project NYX, a programme that will develop AI‑enabled uncrewed air systems to operate as autonomous wingmen alongside Apache attack helicopters. The contract coincides with TEKEVER’s £400 million OVERMATCH investment, which includes a...
LatConnect 60 Announces Accelerated Growth Investment Round to Build AUKUS-Aligned Highest Resolution SWIR Satellite Constellation
LatConnect 60 announced a growth‑investment round to fast‑track an 18‑satellite short‑wave infrared (SWIR) constellation, with a longer‑term goal of 100 satellites by 2035. The funding, building on Australian Space Agency and WA government support, will enable two SWIRSAT launches in Q1 2027...
SpaceX Wants to Fly a Rocket Every 53 Minutes
SpaceX’s Nasdaq filing under the ticker SPCX highlights its transformation into a near‑monopoly on low‑Earth orbit, now operating 9,600 Starlink satellites and controlling roughly three‑quarters of maneuverable assets. The company aims to scale launches to 10,000 per year within five...
SpaceX Aims for 10,000 Annual Launches Within Five Years, FAA Says
SpaceX told the FAA it aims to scale to 10,000 launches per year within five years, a leap from the 170 missions it completed in 2025 that placed about 2,500 satellites in orbit. The goal supports a broader plan to...
Air Force Chief: MQ-9 Reaper ‘Most Valuable Player’ of Iran War Despite Losses
U.S. Air Force Chief Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach told Congress that the MQ‑9 Reaper was the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, delivering the highest number of strikes while keeping pilots out of harm’s way. The campaign saw...
Space Force Eyes 2027 Demonstrations of In-Space Refueling and Satellite Servicing
The U.S. Space Force is set to launch two separate in‑space service demonstrations in 2027: a satellite refueling test using Astroscale’s Provisioner and an autonomous docking trial with Starfish Space’s Otter. Both missions are part of the USSF‑23 launch, which...
SpaceX's S-1 Lays Out Its Government Work and Market Ambitions
SpaceX filed its S‑1 prospectus, revealing projected 2025 revenue of about $18.7 billion, with roughly 20 % coming from U.S. government contracts. The filing incorporates financials from Musk’s recently merged xAI and X businesses, inflating the revenue base. The S‑1 underscores SpaceX’s...
Cowboy Space and the Case for Orbital AI Data Centers
Cowboy Space Corp., formerly Aetherflux, raised a $275 million Series B at a $2 billion valuation and unveiled a plan to build solar‑powered AI data centers in low Earth orbit that double as the rocket upper stage. The design integrates launch vehicle, power...
SpaceX Will Be Worth Trillions, but the Space Station that Made It Possible Is Worth Even More — if We...
SpaceX is poised for a $2 trillion IPO, a valuation that mirrors the potential worth of the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS, built with roughly $250 billion of taxpayer money, has generated scientific and technological assets that remain financially untapped under...
NEC’s Orbital Transfer Vehicle Has Cislunar Combat Potential
Japan’s NEC Corporation has secured a JAXA grant to develop an Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) that can ferry multiple small satellites to diverse orbits, including geostationary and cislunar destinations. The project builds on NEC’s legacy of lunar and deep‑space missions...
NTSB Hearing Turns To MD-11 Pylon Design
The NTSB’s second‑day hearing on the UPS MD‑11F crash examined the aircraft’s pylon design, focusing on the aft bulkhead spherical bearing and its classification as a principal structural element. Testimony revealed that Boeing treated the aft bulkhead lugs as PSEs,...
UK Law Commission – Charting the Legal Horizon of Autonomous Flight
The UK Law Commission released a final report outlining a legal framework for autonomous aviation, covering drones, VTOLs, and air‑traffic management. It draws a clear line between remotely piloted and fully autonomous flights, assigning responsibility to remote pilots when human...
Poland Just Made Sovereign SAR the European Default
Poland has taken operational control of POLSARIS, a four‑satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation, after ICEYE delivered the system in under twelve months. The €200 million (~$218 million) programme, managed by the newly created ARGUS agency, makes Warsaw one of the few...
Chesapeake Bay Seaplane Proposal Draws Pushback From Maryland Residents
Coastal Seaplanes, a Virginia‑based charter operator, seeks to launch commercial seaplane service on Maryland’s Miles River, designating a mile‑long “sealane” for amphibious aircraft. The proposal has sparked opposition from St. Michaels residents and local yacht clubs who cite safety, congestion,...
U.S. Navy’s First Carrier Operated Unmanned Tanker Cleared for Production
The U.S. Navy announced that the MQ‑25A "Stingray" unmanned aerial tanker has cleared Milestone C, moving the program from research into low‑rate initial production. The Navy will acquire three additional MQ‑25s in FY 2027, bringing total procurements to six of the...
Space Force Study Recommends Third Heavy Launch Site
The Space Force’s recent infrastructure study recommends adding a third heavy‑lift launch site to accommodate a projected surge to over 700 launches by 2036. Current Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg facilities are nearing capacity limits, especially for heavy and super‑heavy missions....
Alex MacDonald Urges Rapid Canadian Pivot to Lunar Surface Robotics
Former NASA Chief Economist Alex MacDonald warned Canada’s space agency to act now after NASA’s Ignition event paused the Lunar Gateway and the Canadarm3 role. He urged the CSA to shift funds and focus toward lunar surface robotics, securing Commercial Lunar...
Earth-Based Countermeasures in Modern Space Warfare
Modern space warfare is increasingly fought from the ground, as nations develop kinetic missiles, high‑energy lasers, electronic jamming and cyber tools to neutralize orbital assets without launching their own satellites. Non‑kinetic weapons provide deniable, rapid strikes that avoid the debris...
Varda Space Industries W-6 Capsule Touches Down in South Australia
On May 20, 2026 Varda Space Industries’ W‑6 capsule safely landed at South Australia’s Koonibba Test Range after a high‑velocity re‑entry. The payload, supplied by NASA and U.S. defense agencies, captured real‑time data on thermal protection system performance at roughly...
Lufthansa Expands Land Lease in Clark
Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) signed a lease for additional land at Clark International Airport, expanding its MRO footprint as it phases out line‑maintenance services in Manila. The move follows Philippine Airlines’ shift to in‑house maintenance and will trim LTP’s workforce...
Airbus Picks Airtificial to Supply Components for Eurodrone UAV
Airbus Defence and Space has chosen Spanish aerospace firm Airtificial to supply composite cowlings for the Eurodrone UAV. The components are critical for the drone’s propulsion efficiency and reliability. Airtificial, which produced over 60,000 composite aircraft parts in 2024, will...
ESA and Spain Establish Formal Framework for Sovereign Satellite Connectivity
On May 20, 2026 the European Space Agency and Spain’s Agencia Espacial Española signed a Memorandum of Intent to deepen cooperation on secure satellite connectivity, directly supporting the EU’s IRIS² program valued at several billion euros (≈$3.3 billion). The framework gives...
13 Questions with America’s Private Aviation Provider, Wheels Up
Wheels Up, the leading U.S. private‑aviation membership company, discussed its growth strategy in a 13‑question interview. The firm highlighted a 22% rise in membership fees, a 15‑aircraft fleet expansion, and a new partnership with a major airline loyalty program. Executives...
Isaacman Predicts Chinese Crewed Lunar Flyby by 2027
Jared Isaacman, head of NASA’s commercial crew program, warned at the ASCEND conference that China is on track to launch a crewed lunar flyby by 2027. The prediction suggests the Chinese space agency could achieve the first human orbit of...
Kizilelma UCAV Deal to Advance Indonesia’s Air Power, Says GlobalData
Indonesia signed a deal on May 6, 2026 at the SAHA 2026 exhibition to acquire 12 Bayraktar Kızıl Elma unmanned combat aerial vehicles, with an option for up to 48 more. GlobalData estimates the country will spend roughly $2.7 billion on UAVs over the next...
Orbital Data Centers: Power and Thermal Management for Scalable Architectures
Redwire released a whitepaper detailing how power generation and thermal management will enable scalable orbital data centers. The paper leverages the company’s flight‑proven Roll‑Out Solar Array (ROSA) and deployable radiator technologies to illustrate a near‑term compute node architecture. It argues...