Lockheed Martin Wins $991m DoW Contract for F-35 Material Kits
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has secured a firm‑fixed‑price $991.13 million contract to produce 432 material‑modification kits for F‑35 aircraft. The kits will modernize electronic‑warfare systems and are allocated across the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, foreign‑military‑sales customers, and other participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, with delivery slated for March 2032. The announcement coincides with Lockheed’s selection by Australia as the combat‑system integration partner for its upcoming Virginia‑class submarines.
Region V Student Conference Brings Together a Community to Share Ideas and Celebrate Innovation
The AIAA Region V Student Conference convened March 26‑27 at Iowa State University, drawing high‑school, undergraduate, graduate, and team participants. Professional AIAA members delivered talks on the value of continued society involvement after graduation. Over 30 technical presentations showcased cutting‑edge research, from...
Potomac Database Systems Unveils Plans to Amass Lunar Data
Potomac Database Systems announced a three‑pronged strategy to collect commercial lunar data using the Compass impactor satellite, the Pathfinder surface node, and the year‑long Source rover. The company aims to sell these datasets to firms developing Moon missions, positioning data...
New Drone Targeting Tech Counters GPS Jamming Threats
BAE Systems and Vantor have integrated BAE’s Geospatial eXploitation Products (GXP) with Vantor’s Raptor Sync to provide vision‑based georegistration for drones, achieving sub‑3‑meter ground‑coordinate accuracy even when GPS signals are jammed or spoofed. The system corrects KLV metadata in real...
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[Startup Story] Lios’ Contract with ESA Renewed for €2 Million
Dublin‑based Lios has secured a second renewal of its contract with the European Space Agency, receiving nearly €2 million (about $2.2 million) in co‑funding under the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme. The deal funds Phase 3, which will scale production of the company’s acoustic...
House Bill Restores Funding for TraCSS
The House Appropriations Committee approved a $50 million allocation for the Office of Space Commerce, restoring funding for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) after the administration sought to scale back the program. The bill also earmarks $52.5 million for FY 2026,...
New CSF Report Sees Up To 7,000+ Satellites Launched Annually By Mid 2030’s, Highlights The Challenges With US Launch Infrastructure
The Commercial Space Federation and Rational Futures released a data‑driven report warning that U.S. launch demand could swell to as many as 7,000 flights per year by the mid‑2030s, far outpacing the capacity of existing spaceports. In 2025, more than...
Britain Put $160M on the Table for New Long-Range Strike Drone
Britain's Ministry of Defence has launched Project INSTIGATOR, a $160 million program to acquire a beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight loitering munition with over 80 km range and 45‑minute loiter time. The RFI issued May 15, 2026 seeks an off‑the‑shelf capability for Phase 1, with responses due May 29. The system...
Awesome Cargo Adds Third A330-200P2F
Awesome Cargo announced delivery of its third Airbus A330‑200 passenger‑to‑freighter, registered XA‑DUR, on May 17, 2026, expanding its fleet to three converted wide‑body jets. The carrier, which received regulatory clearance in 2023, operates ACMI, CMI and charter services, moving pharma,...
Arkeus Banks $25M Series A as Its Drone Sensors Win Pentagon Contracts
Melbourne‑based defence tech startup Arkeus closed a $25 million Series A round, valuing the company at roughly $100 million. The funding, led by QIC Ventures and joined by R+VC, Folklore Ventures and Dyne Ventures, will finance a new Queensland manufacturing hub and expand...
Brand New Rafale Jets Boost Indonesia’s Defenses as Prabowo Vows Stronger Deterrence Amid Global Uncertainty
Indonesia received six French‑made Rafale fighters, bringing total deliveries to one‑third of the $8.1 billion, 42‑jet deal signed in 2022. President Prabowo Subianto used the hand‑over ceremony to stress that bolstering air power is essential for deterrence amid a volatile global...
SpaceX IPO Plans Trigger Pension Fund Governance Concerns
SpaceX is preparing for a high‑profile initial public offering that could value the company at roughly $30 billion. Pension fund managers in the UK and US are raising red flags over the company’s dual‑class share structure, which grants Elon Musk and...
The Small Changes to Dragonfly’s Rotors that Could Make a Big Difference
NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft will perform a powered‑flight transition on Titan in 2034, spinning its four rotors while still descending through the moon’s dense atmosphere. To counter cross‑winds and yaw instability, engineers increased each rotor’s blade count to three, shortened the...
Japan Reveals Sweeping Military Space Buildup
Japan’s Ministry of Defense unveiled a sweeping space‑defense buildup, expanding the new Space Operations Group to 880 personnel and allocating roughly $1 billion for fiscal 2026. Defense spending in the space domain has jumped from about $497 million in 2022 to $3.4 billion...
12th Starship/Superheavy Test Delayed One Day to May 20, 2026
SpaceX announced that the 12th Starship/Superheavy orbital test flight has been pushed back by one day, now scheduled for May 20, 2026 with a launch window opening at 5:30 pm Central. The company gave no official reason, though short delays often stem from...
What Military Space Systems Would Canada Need for True Sovereign Defence Capability?
Canada is charting a multi‑year roadmap to achieve sovereign military space capability after decades of reliance on U.S. communications, warning, launch and navigation services. The April 2026 Canadian Space Launch Act and the “Our North, Strong and Free” defence policy provide...
Zenk Space Raises $26 Million, Targets June Debut Launch
China’s Zenk Space announced a $26 million (180 million yuan) financing round led by Wenzhou Bay New Area Investment Group, bolstering its upcoming Zhihang‑1 kerolox launch. The 49.8‑meter, 3.35‑meter rocket can place 4,000 kg into a 500‑km Sun‑synchronous orbit and is slated for...
Directory of Hyperspectral Satellite Operators
The May 17 2026 directory catalogs the rapidly maturing hyperspectral satellite ecosystem, listing commercial constellations such as Pixxel, Orbital Sidekick, Wyvern, Kuva Space, Xplore, Planet’s Tanager‑1, and GHGSat alongside public science missions like EnMAP, PRISMA, DESIS and EMIT. It highlights each operator’s...
NASA and Eta Space Finalize Integration for LOXSAT Cryogenic Fuel Demonstration
NASA confirmed that the LOXSAT cryogenic fuel demonstration has entered final pre‑launch testing at Rocket Lab’s Long Beach facility. Developed by Eta Space under a NASA Tipping Point contract, the payload will launch on an Electron rocket from New Zealand no...
The Hidden Rules That Force Pacific Flights Into The Same Narrow Corridors
The Pacific Organized Track System (PACOTS) channels trans‑Pacific flights onto shared, fuel‑efficient corridors that follow the jet stream’s core, allowing airlines to shave hours off routes like Tokyo‑Los Angeles while maintaining a minimum 1,000‑foot vertical separation. Modern space‑based ADS‑B surveillance reduces...
AVIATION INDUSTRY IN TURMOIL: FUEL CRISIS PROMPTS SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS
A sharp rise in jet fuel prices—from about $600 to $1,286 per ton—has tightened airline margins and forced carriers to trim marginal routes. Eurocontrol reports a 2% dip in European capacity for May‑June 2026, while OAG projects modest summer gains,...
F-18 Fighter Jets Collide Mid-Air During Idaho Air Show, Triggers Lockdown
Two U.S. Navy E/A‑18G Growler jets from the Vikings demo team collided mid‑air during the Gunfighter Skies air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. All four aviators ejected safely and were located about a mile from the...
Lockheed Martin: The Defense Supercycle Is Here, But Not All Growth Will Flow To The Bottom Line
Lockheed Martin stands to benefit from a defense supercycle as the FY27 U.S. defense budget nearly doubles research and procurement spending, driving steep growth in core programs such as the F‑35, PAC‑3/MSE and THAAD. The company’s backlog has risen to...
UK Drone Maker Tests Hellfire on CAPSTONE for Apache Wingman Bid
Certo Aerospace announced that its 600‑kg CAPSTONE unmanned aircraft completed ground trials using AGM‑114 Hellfire missile simulators, marking a key step toward combat‑ready capability. The company is teaming with BAE Systems to submit a joint bid for the British Army’s...
U.S. Army Looks for $1M Missiles to Replace Expensive Interceptors
On May 15, 2026, the U.S. Army issued RFI MOSAIC‑26‑03 demanding low‑cost interceptors priced below $1 million per round and component costs under $250,000. The request outlines five problem statements covering complete missiles, rocket motors, seekers, fire‑control systems, and system integrators,...
How The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II Stacks Up Against The Eurofighter Typhoon
The article compares Boeing’s F‑15EX Eagle II with the Eurofighter Typhoon, examining design heritage, speed, range, payload, radar, combat record and strategic roles. The F‑15EX can carry a 29,500‑lb payload and is equipped with the AN/APG‑82(V)1 AESA radar, while the Typhoon...
NASA Releases Final RFP for Mars Communications Orbiter
NASA issued the final request for proposals (RFP) on May 14 for a Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN) orbiter, with bids due June 15 and a contract award targeted for Oct. 1. The $700 million program, funded by last year’s budget reconciliation act, aims to...
The End of GEO?
Satellite operator SES announced the cancellation of two Intelsat‑derived GEO satellites, IS‑41 and IS‑44, as part of a post‑acquisition fleet rationalisation that trims capex and avoids duplication. While SES still has five GEO craft on order, the move follows a...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Moritz Novak, GATE Space
GATE Space, a Vienna‑based spin‑off from TU Wien, is commercialising green chemical propulsion that lets smallsats maneuver, reposition and de‑orbit on command. Its flagship BeaconSat, Austria’s first military satellite, will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in February 2027, funded with roughly...
The Two Voyager Probes Are Slowly Running Out of Power, and the Engineers Keeping Them Alive Are Now Making the...
After nearly five decades in space, both Voyager probes are operating with the smallest set of active science instruments in their history. As of May 2026 Voyager 1 runs only its magnetometer and Plasma Wave Subsystem, while Voyager 2 will soon join it...
Southwest Launches 1st-Ever Flights To Alaska: Here's Where They’re Flying
Southwest Airlines launched its first flights to Alaska on May 15, adding Anchorage as its 122nd destination. The carrier will operate daily, seasonal service from Denver and Las Vegas to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The Denver‑Anchorage leg,...
Croatia Airlines Airbus A220 Veers Off Runway At High Speed, Smashes Signs
Croatia Airlines flight OU412, a brand‑new Airbus A220‑300, aborted its takeoff from Split Airport on May 16, 2026 after veering sharply left at roughly 123 knots, just below takeoff speed. The aircraft left the runway edge, struck several signs and damaged...
Textron Inc. (TXT) Strengthens Aerospace Prospects with New Service Facility in Australia
Textron Aviation opened a 35,000‑square‑foot service facility at Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne on May 5. The hub more than doubles the company’s previous Australian footprint and is built to support over 1,400 Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft across the Asia‑Pacific....
Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) Hits New Milestone as Undervalued Aerospace and Defense Stock to Buy
Lockheed Martin showcased a unified data platform during the Balikatan 2026 exercise, integrating sensors, fire‑control systems, and airspace management in real time. The demonstration compressed sensor‑to‑shooter timelines and provided a live battlefield view, marking the first cross‑domain data sharing for...
Perseverance Checks in From Mars with a Selfie, the Mounting Pollution From Satellite Launches, and More Science Stories
NASA's Perseverance rover snapped its sixth selfie on Mars, venturing farther west of Jezero Crater into the Arathusa outcrop. The rover is now examining rocks up to 3.9 billion years old and a possible volcanic dike, while gathering core samples for...
Türkiye Starts Work on HÜRJET Naval Variant for Aircraft Carrier
Turkey has officially launched development of a carrier‑compatible version of its HÜRJET supersonic trainer and light‑attack jet. The program focuses on reinforcing the landing gear, adding an arresting hook, and applying marinization measures to protect against salt‑induced corrosion. The naval...
This Week In Space Podcast: Episode 210 — ESCAPADES at Mars
Episode 210 of *This Week In Space* features Dr. Robert Lillis discussing NASA’s Mars ESCAPADE mission, a pair of low‑cost orbiters designed to measure how the Red Planet’s atmosphere is being stripped away. Built largely by Rocket Lab and launched on Blue Origin’s New Glenn, the...
Adisyn and Raval to Develop Graphene-Enhanced Stealth Components for Drones
Adisyn’s 2D Radar Absorbers has signed an MoU with Israeli plastics manufacturer Raval A.C.S. to co‑develop graphene‑enhanced radar‑absorbing components for drones and UAVs. Raval, which generates about €201 million (≈ $219 million) in annual revenue, will handle plastic molding and serial‑production tooling, while...
NASA Just Put a 30-Day Clock on a $700 Million Mars Contract, and the Deadline Tells You Everything About How...
NASA has posted a 30‑day Request for Proposal to build a new Mars Telecommunications Network, a $700 million contract aimed at replacing aging relay orbiters. The agency’s current fleet—Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN and ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter—are well beyond design life...
Europe Launches a New Mission to Image Earth’s Magnetic Shield in 2026 While the Operational Satellite Warning of Solar Storms...
Europe’s SMILE mission, a joint ESA‑China effort, is set to launch in 2026 to capture X‑ray and ultraviolet images of Earth’s magnetic shield from a polar‑sweeping orbit. At the same time, the operational space‑weather sentinel SOHO, launched in 1995, is...
Lockheed Wins $61M Deal to Fix Patriot’s Blind Spot Problem
Lockheed Martin secured a $61 million U.S. Army contract to develop two critical upgrades for the Patriot air‑defense system: the Missile Segment Enhancement Containerized Launcher and the Remote Interceptor Guidance 360‑Degrees (RIG‑360) system. The RIG‑360 will provide 360‑degree PAC‑3 missile engagement...
Northrop Grumman Wins $325M to Develop Drone that Monitors Hypersonic Tests
Northrop Grumman has secured a $325.5 million U.S. Army contract to develop RangeHawk, a high‑altitude long‑endurance drone designed to gather test data from hypersonic and other high‑speed weapons. The cost‑plus‑fixed‑fee award covers prototype development, air‑frame modifications, sensor integration and logistics, with...
F-35 Fleet Gets Nearly $1B Electronic Warfare Upgrade
Lockheed Martin secured a $991 million Navy contract to produce 432 electronic‑warfare (EW) modification kits for the F‑35 fleet, with deliveries scheduled through March 2032. The kits will be distributed across U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and a larger share to...
3 Crucial Aerospace Component Makers That Analysts Love
Analysts are spotlighting three aerospace component makers—Allegheny Technologies (ATI), HEICO Corp. (HEI) and Berkshire Hathaway’s Precision Castparts—as potential beneficiaries of the upcoming SpaceX IPO and broader defense spending. ATI reported $1.15 billion in revenue and a 19% jump in adjusted EBITDA,...
Intuitive Machines Buys Goonhilly Earth Station
Intuitive Machines of Texas announced the acquisition of Goonhilly Earth Station, including the UK‑based group's COMSAT assets and 44 antennas worldwide. The purchase follows years of collaboration, during which Goonhilly’s deep‑space‑rated antennas supported Intuitive Machines’ IM‑1 and IM‑2 lunar lander...
May 15, 2026 Zimmerman/Batchelor Podcast
Robert Zimmerman’s new book *Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8* chronicles the historic 1968 mission that first took humans to another world. The title is now available in three formats: a hardback and paperback print edition, an ebook, and an audiobook....
Korean Air Unveils 747 Exhibit at California Science Center
Korean Air has donated its retired 747‑400, tail number HL7489, to the California Science Center, creating the Korean Air Aviation Gallery. The aircraft, which logged 13,842 flights and over 86,000 flight hours between 1994 and 2014, will be transformed into...
LandSpace Zhuque-2E Rocket Successfully Launched
On May 14, 2026, Chinese commercial launch provider LandSpace successfully lifted off its Zhuque-2E rocket, marking the nation’s first large‑scale use of liquid‑oxygen‑methane propulsion. The two‑stage vehicle features four TQ‑12A methane engines on the first stage (828 kN sea‑level thrust each)...
NASA Science, Cargo Launch on 34th SpaceX Resupply Mission to Station
SpaceX launched the 34th commercial resupply mission for NASA on May 15, 2026, using a Falcon 9 to deliver roughly 6,500 lb of cargo to the International Space Station. The Dragon spacecraft will dock autonomously on May 17, carrying new experiments...
SpaceX Launches Cargo Dragon to ISS
SpaceX launched an unmanned Dragon cargo freighter to the International Space Station on May 16, 2026, using a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The booster completed its sixth flight and successfully returned to the launch site. The Dragon capsule,...