SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Dr. Ane Aanesland, ThrustMe
ThrustMe celebrated its 100th iodine electric propulsion system in orbit in June 2025, marking a shift from prototype to industrial scale. The solid‑iodine thrusters eliminate bulky xenon tanks, cutting mass and cost for small‑sat manufacturers. The company has surged past 200 orders by October 2023 and secured a $10.8 million contract to outfit 40 Japanese Earth‑observation satellites. Dr. Ane Aanesland will discuss how this propulsion technology underpins the emerging orbital debris‑removal market at SmallSat Europe.
Air Force Wants Nearly $1 Billion to Start Buying CCAs in 2027
The Air Force has asked for nearly $1 billion in FY 2027 to begin procurement of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). The budget request totals $996.5 million for procurement plus $150 million advance procurement and $1.37 billion for research and development, bringing the program’s FY 2027 request...
KC-135 Crews Receive Distinguished Flying Crosses for Combat Missions
More than a dozen airmen from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing were honored on March 31 for extraordinary combat refueling missions in contested Middle‑East airspace. Twelve KC‑135 pilots and boom operators received the Distinguished Flying Cross, with Staff Sgt. Gabrielle Stallings...
How the Crew of Artemis II Reacted to Seeing the Moon up Close
Artemis II’s crew performed a seven‑hour flyby of the Moon, becoming the farthest humans from Earth since the Apollo era. The spacecraft lost contact for about 45 minutes as it passed behind the lunar far side, giving the astronauts a rare...
The US Surged over 150 Aircraft Into Iran for a High-Risk Rescue and Used Deception to Trick Iranian Forces
The United States launched a massive combat search‑and‑rescue operation after an F‑15E was shot down over Iran, deploying more than 150 aircraft to retrieve the downed crew. While the pilot was rescued quickly, the weapons systems officer evaded capture for...
Moog Highlights Growing Satellite Bus Capabilities with Full‑Scale METEOR Reveal at Space Symposium
Moog Inc. unveiled a full‑scale model of its METEOR satellite bus at the 41st Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, highlighting a portfolio of scalable spacecraft platforms. The METEOR demonstrator showcases adaptable payload interfaces, flexible power systems, and high‑delta‑V propulsion designed...
FOSSA Targets Japan’s Defense Market as Larger Smallsats Expand Capabilities
Spanish startup FOSSA Systems is entering Japan’s defense market through a distribution deal with conglomerate Kanematsu and opening a Tokyo office. The company has moved from sub‑kilogram picosatellites to larger 3U, 6U cubesats and is developing a 75‑150 kg microsatellite platform...
Artemis 2 Flight Day 6: Lunar Flyby Coverage Begins as Orion Prepares for the Far Side
Flight Day 6 of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission featured a live lunar‑flyby broadcast as the Orion crew, including CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, approached the Moon’s near side. At 1:57 p.m. EDT the crew set a new human‑distance record, surpassing Apollo 13’s 400,171 km (248,655 mi) mark. Real‑time...
The Moon Astronauts Just Broke the Record for the Farthest Any Human Has Ever Traveled From Earth
Five days after launch from Kennedy Space Center, NASA’s Artemis 2 crew broke the record for the farthest distance any human has traveled from Earth, reaching 252,752 miles. The record surpasses Apollo 13’s 248,655‑mile apex set in 1970. During the lunar flyby...
Hartzell Expands Top Prop Program
Hartzell Propeller has broadened its Top Prop conversion lineup, adding over 150 new aluminum and carbon‑fiber propeller models for general aviation aircraft. The update introduces enhanced search filters linked to FAA and EASA certifications, making it easier for owners to match...
NASA's Moon Ship and Rocket Seem to Be Working Well, so What About the Landers?
NASA’s Artemis program is accelerating its Human Landing System development by removing the near‑rectilinear halo orbit requirement, which reduces the delta‑V and propellant needed for lunar landers. SpaceX and Blue Origin have submitted revised proposals—Starship will dock with Orion in...
NASA’s Artemis II Astronauts Break Apollo’s Distance Record
NASA’s Artemis II mission has sent four astronauts farther from Earth than any human before, reaching 248,655 miles (400,171 km). The record eclipses Apollo 13’s 1970 distance of about 205,000 miles, which was an accidental by‑product of an emergency lunar flyby. The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor...
DOD Prioritizes Prototyping in $1.4B Research Contract Recompete
The Department of Defense is preparing a recompete for its Research, Development, Test, Evaluation, Engineering and Technical Services (RETS) contract, which carries a $1.4 billion ceiling for up to five‑and‑a‑half years. The new solicitation will emphasize prototyping and experimentation, seeking industry...
Watch Live—NASA’s Artemis II’s Moon Flyby Is Underway
NASA’s Artemis II crew completed a historic lunar flyby, becoming the first humans to travel beyond the Moon in over five decades. The Orion spacecraft broke the Apollo 13 distance record, reaching about 4,070 miles from the lunar surface and spending five...
Autonomous Air Taxi Certification Emerges as New Regulatory Frontier
The FAA is tightening certification requirements for vertical‑takeoff‑and‑landing (VTOL) air‑taxi platforms, demanding a rigorous testing regime for developers such as Archer, Joby and Beta. Boeing‑spun Wisk Aero is pushing the envelope with its Generation 6 aircraft, which is designed to operate...
Orion Completes Small Mid-Course-Correction Engine Burn as It Prepares to Swing Around Behind the Moon
NASA’s Orion capsule completed a 17.5‑second mid‑course correction on April 5, 2026, fine‑tuning its trajectory for the Artemis II lunar fly‑by scheduled for the evening of April 6. The crew – astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA’s Jeremy Hansen –...
Japan’s Lunar Lander Startup Ispace Wins Contract with Korean Rover Startup
Japanese lunar‑lander startup Ispace announced a contract with South‑Korean rover company Unmanned Exploration Laboratory (UEL) to fly its two‑wheeled rover on Ispace’s upcoming ULTRA lander. The payload will ride on Mission 3, slated for launch in 2028, representing the first Korean...
Artemis II Mission Day 5 Recap April 5
On Flight Day 5, Artemis II astronauts completed the first deep‑space test of Orion’s Crew Survival System emergency suits, performed a 17.5‑second trajectory correction burn, and entered the Moon’s sphere of influence. The crew also photographed the entire Orientale Basin, marking humanity’s...
Fast and Furious: Aerospace Firms Reduce Hypersonic Design to Months, Not Years
Aerospace firms Specter Aerospace and nTop announced a new workflow that reduces hypersonic aircraft design from months to days while maintaining high fidelity. Their implicit geometry modeling eliminates traditional CAD bottlenecks, enabling rapid conceptual modeling, automated analysis, and design‑space optimization....
Japanese Rocket Startup Interstellar Gets Another $47 Million Grant From Japan
Interstellar, a Japanese rocket startup, received an additional $47 million grant from the government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, bringing its total public funding to roughly $99 million (¥15.4 bn). Combined with nearly $130 million in private capital, the company has moved into...
Artemis II Crew Delivers Stunning New Image of the Moon's Hidden Far Side
On day five of its ten‑day lunar flyby, NASA’s Artemis II crew captured the first ever human‑eye view of the Moon’s far side and posted the image online. The four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—were 18,830 miles from the Moon...
Artemis II Crew Nears Moon as Spacecraft Enters Lunar Orbit Phase
NASA launched the Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, sending a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft with four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center. Early Monday, the crew entered the lunar sphere of influence, where the Moon’s gravity overtakes Earth’s,...
How to Watch NASA’s Artemis II Flying Past the Moon Live
NASA’s Artemis II mission on April 6, 2026 performed a historic lunar flyby, marking the first crewed deep‑space flight since 1972. Four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule passed within roughly 4,070 mi of the Moon’s surface, capturing images and conducting scientific observations. NASA streamed...
NAVAIR Seeks Industry Input on CV-22 Osprey JTT-NG Integration
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has issued a sources‑sought notice to find industry partners capable of integrating the Joint Tactical Terminal – Next Generation (JTT‑NG) onto the CV‑22 Osprey. The effort is driven by the V‑22 Joint Program Office...
Night Sky Network Celebrates Artemis II
On April 6, 2026 the Artemis II crew became the first humans to orbit the Moon’s far side, traveling roughly 4,000 miles above the lunar surface. The historic maneuver was streamed live on NASA’s YouTube channel and the new NASA+ platform. NASA’s Night Sky...
The Soul of Aerospace Power: It’s the People, Not the Machines
Operation Epic Fury demonstrated the United States Air Force and Space Force’s massive sortie tempo, with over 13,000 combat missions and 12,300 targets struck by April 1. The conflict’s first U.S. aircraft loss occurred on April 3 when an F‑15E was downed...
Artemis II: NASA’s Orion Heads Home After a Historic Loop Around the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft completed a historic five‑day lunar flyby, looping around the Moon’s far side on April 6. The crew witnessed the first human‑viewed total solar eclipse from lunar orbit and captured unprecedented visual detail of the far‑side terrain. A...
Nominations Open for Member Advancement
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has opened nominations for its Member Advancement program, inviting members to recognize peers who have delivered outstanding contributions to the aerospace sector. Eligibility hinges on demonstrated leadership, technical excellence, and measurable industry...
Beyond Gravity Composites Expertise Aid NASA Artemis II Mission
Beyond Gravity, a Swiss carbon‑fiber specialist, is supplying critical hardware for NASA’s Artemis II mission. The firm will deliver the universal stage adapter that connects the Space Launch System to the European Service Module, a 9.9‑meter‑tall structure slated for first use...
The Near Side of the Moon
NASA’s Orion spacecraft captured a high‑resolution view of the Moon’s near side on April 4, 2026, highlighting dark basaltic lava flows that are exclusive to this hemisphere. The image was taken by the Artemis II crew—Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and CSA...
The Arms Race Has Gone Airborne: What Investors Need to Know
Draganfly and Palladyne AI have completed a SwarmOS integration milestone that proves autonomous, decentralized drone swarming for U.S. defense applications. Edge AI now equips drones with on‑board computing, eliminating reliance on GPS or radio links and rendering traditional jamming ineffective....
Airbus Doubles Down in India with Bengaluru Technology Center
Airbus inaugurated an 880,000‑square‑foot technology centre in Bengaluru on March 6, creating a new hub for engineering, digital transformation, customer services and procurement that can accommodate roughly 5,000 staff. The centre reinforces Airbus’s “Make in India” strategy and expands its role...
Artemis II: Everything We Know as Its Crew Approaches the Far Side of the Moon
Artemis II’s Orion capsule entered the Moon’s sphere of influence and is now orbiting the lunar far side, preparing for a six‑hour dark‑side flyby on April 6 at 2:45 pm EDT. The four‑person crew has already shared striking Earth‑rise photos and the first human‑viewed...
Avel Robotics Accelerates Aerospace Development with Bordeaux Location, Ongoing Activity Diversification
Avel Robotics, a French specialist in automated fiber placement, opened a commercial office in Bordeaux in January 2026 to sit closer to key aerospace and space players. The move follows the signing of new aerospace contracts, notably a development deal...
Nuclear Theft in Disguise? Iran Claims U.S. Rescue of Downed F-15E Crew Was Cover to Steal Enriched Uranium
Iran's foreign ministry accused the United States of using a rescue mission for a downed F‑15E crew as a pretext to steal enriched uranium. President Trump and the U.S. vice president said the operation rescued the crew without casualties and...
NASA’s Artemis II Mission Is About to Pass Behind the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II crew entered the Moon’s sphere of influence and is preparing for a six‑hour lunar flyby that will bring humans within 4,070 miles of the surface. Day five featured emergency‑suit tests, a trajectory‑correction burn, and an Easter‑egg hunt aboard...
US Continues Strikes Into Iran After Successful Rescue of F-15E Aircrew
On April 2, a U.S. Air Force F‑15E was shot down over Iran during a combat mission. The two crew members were rescued in separate search‑and‑rescue operations on April 4. U.S. Central Command said air strikes into Iran will continue as it...
US Continues Strikes Into Iran After Successful Rescue of F-15E Aircrew
The United States launched additional airstrikes inside Iran following the successful rescue of a downed F‑15E crew that had been captured during a combat mission. The rescue, carried out by U.S. special‑operations forces, freed both pilot and weapons systems officer...
US Forces Rescue Crew After Iran Shoots Down F-15E Fighter
U.S. forces rescued both crew members of an F‑15E fighter shot down by Iran on April 2 during Operation Epic Fury. The first pilot was located and recovered seven hours after the incident, while the second service member was rescued on April 4. Iran...
Opinion: The Cultural Gap Facing Aerospace R&D Testing
Aerospace R&D still leans on months‑long physical testing despite rapid advances in simulation and digital‑twin technology. The industry’s cultural reliance on physical validation slows programs like the Golden Dome missile‑defense shield, where speed is critical. Other sectors, notably automotive, have...
The Moon Base Has a Hardware Plan. It Needs a Software Strategy, Too.
NASA announced a phased plan to build a permanent lunar base, targeting crewed landings every six months and a nuclear propulsion test to Mars by 2028. The initiative relies on a sprawling network of commercial partners, CLPS providers, and international...
Why Will Today's Lunar Flyby only Beam Back Low-Resolution Video?
Artemis II’s Orion crew will swing past the Moon at roughly 4,000 mi (6,400 km) altitude, broadcasting live video from four low‑rate SAW GoPro cameras. The feed will be low‑resolution because the Deep Space Network’s radio bandwidth is stretched thin by distance and...
Saab Wins $273m FMV Order for Mobile C-UAS
Saab has been awarded a Skr 2.6 bn ($273 million) contract by Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration for a mobile, modular counter‑unmanned aerial system (C‑UAS). The system is designed to protect both military installations and civilian infrastructure from low‑altitude drone threats. Deliveries are planned...
Artemis II Astronauts Will Recreate Apollo 8’s Iconic “Earthrise” Photo TODAY
NASA’s Artemis II crew will attempt a deliberate recreation of Apollo 8’s iconic Earthrise photograph during today’s lunar flyby. The mission timeline allocates a few minutes on the far side of the Moon for both Earthrise and Earthset shots. Modern digital cameras...
The State of Satcom 2026
SpaceX Starlink and Amazon Leo are reshaping satellite communications, with Starlink surpassing 10 million users and operating over 10,000 LEO satellites, while Amazon Leo targets service in 100 countries by 2028. Their massive capital, spectrum purchases, and low‑cost launch capability are...
Artemis II Supplier Series: Orion’s Windows
McDanel Advanced Materials, after acquiring Rayotek, will provide every Orion spacecraft window for Artemis II and the next four missions. The windows use a multi‑layer construction that shields against micrometeoroid impacts, radiation, and microbial growth while meeting strict mass limits. McDanel’s...
Seagate Space Signs MOU with Firefly Aerospace to Collaborate on Offshore Launch Infrastructure for Alpha
Seagate Space Corp. signed an MOU with Firefly Aerospace to develop an offshore launch platform for the Alpha rocket, leveraging Seagate’s purpose‑built Gateway Series. The platform received “Approval in Principle” from the American Bureau of Shipping, marking the first offshore...
Thirty Years Later, Mars 96 Has Not Been Found
In November 1996 Russia launched Mars 96, a 6,500 kg, multinational probe designed to orbit Mars and deploy landers and penetrators. A malfunction in the Proton‑K upper stage left the spacecraft stranded in low‑Earth orbit, causing it to re‑enter the atmosphere weeks...
Ownership without Oversight: Australia's On-Orbit Supervision Gap
In late 2025 Australian firm HEO bought the in‑orbit satellite Continuum‑1 from Argentina’s Satellogic, marking Australia’s first privately owned space asset. While the United States remains the launching state, Australia now bears treaty‑based responsibility for supervising the satellite’s operations, yet its...
Review: Return to Launch
Stephen C. Smith’s new book *Return to Launch* chronicles how Florida’s Space Coast has shifted from government‑driven boom‑and‑bust cycles to a private‑sector‑led launch hub. The narrative highlights more than 100 orbital launches in 2025, driven largely by SpaceX’s presence at...