NASA Seeks SmallSat Mission Concepts Using Adaptive Sensing and Edge AI
NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office announced the Space to Soil Challenge, inviting proposals for SmallSat missions that leverage adaptive sensing and edge AI. The initiative aims to advance onboard processing capabilities that can deliver rapid, high‑resolution data for land‑resilience applications such as soil health and agricultural monitoring. Submissions are open to industry, academia, and startups, with potential funding and partnership opportunities for selected concepts. The challenge reflects NASA’s push to integrate cutting‑edge AI directly on small satellites to reduce latency and improve data utility.
Private Company to Land on Asteroid Apophis as It Flies Close to Earth
In 2029, asteroid Apophis will skim Earth at just 32,000 kilometres, a once‑in‑millennia event visible to the naked eye. A private U.S. company plans to deploy two landers as part of an international armada that includes spacecraft from Europe, Japan...
EHang Progresses eVTOL Ecosystem Development Plans in Thailand
EHang’s senior leadership met Thai government officials and local firms in Bangkok to accelerate the rollout of its pilotless eVTOL aircraft. The discussions targeted a three‑dimensional transport system that could ease congestion, improve emergency response and link regions at low...
PM Modi to Inaugurate Noida International Airport on March 28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Noida International Airport in Jewar on March 28, 2026. The airport has secured final security clearance from BCAS and an aerodrome licence from the DGCA, clearing the last regulatory hurdles before commercial service....
Week in Images: 16-20 March 2026
The week of March 16‑20, 2026 was marked by a series of striking space‑related images. NASA’s Artemis II rocket returned to its Kennedy launchpad after a second rollout, while ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot captured the first Cupola view of the εpsilon mission and prepared...
Live Coverage: SpaceX to Launch 25 Starlink Satellites on Falcon 9 Rocket From Vandenberg SFB
SpaceX is set to launch its 30th Starlink batch of 2026, deploying 25 V2 Mini Optimized satellites on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission, designated Starlink 17‑15, will lift off at 2:51:49 p.m. PDT and follow a southerly trajectory into...
Amazon Leo Vs. SpaceX Starlink: The Race to Own Low Earth Orbit
SpaceX’s Starlink crossed the 10,000‑satellite threshold in March 2026 and now serves over 10 million customers across roughly 160 countries. Amazon’s rebranded Leo constellation, launched in 2025, has about 250 satellites in orbit and began a limited commercial rollout in early...
Lockheed Martin Signs All Industrial Projects for Czech F-35 Programme
Lockheed Martin has signed off on all eleven industrial cooperation projects tied to the Czech Republic’s F‑35 Lightning II programme, including a partnership with Ray Service to manufacture wire harnesses domestically. The Czech government plans to purchase 24 F‑35A fighters,...
IRocket iRX-100 Missile Test with Arnold Defense Launcher
On March 11, U.S. startup iRocket and Arnold Defense successfully conducted a live‑fire test of the iRocket iRX‑100 tactical missile from an Arnold Defense 70 mm rocket launcher in the Mojave Desert. The solid‑fuel missile accelerated to roughly Mach 2, traveling about...
NASA Won't Give up Hope on Silent MAVEN Mars Probe: 'We're Still Looking for It'
NASA announced on March 16 that it still has not re‑established contact with the MAVEN orbiter, which went silent after emerging from Mars’ far side on Dec. 6, 2025. The agency has resumed Deep Space Network attempts following a solar conjunction,...
NASA Glenn Opens Applications for Free Summer Engineering Institute
NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is accepting applications for the 2026 NASA Glenn High School Engineering Institute, a five‑day, hands‑on summer program for rising juniors and seniors. Applications are open from March 20 to May 1, 2026, and require a minimum...
Nigeria's Binani Air Certifies for Scheduled Operations
Nigeria's Binani Air obtained an air operator’s certificate for scheduled domestic flights from the NCAA on 17 March. The certification marks the first fully woman‑owned airline in Nigeria, led by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani. Binani Air already holds an...
Robinson Helicopters and Their Accelerated Path to FAA Autonomous Certification
Robinson Helicopter is pursuing FAA autonomous certification by retrofitting its proven R44 and R66 helicopters with autonomy systems. By certifying only the autonomy stack and control changes under Part 27, the company avoids the extensive airframe and propulsion validation required by...
Ukraine Downs Russian Ka-52 Helicopter with FPV Drone
Ukrainian forces reported that an FPV drone destroyed a Russian Ka‑52 attack helicopter near Pokrovsk, supported by video and photos. The strike was credited to the 59th Separate Assault Brigade, which uses low‑cost, first‑person‑view drones as improvised strike platforms. The...
Ryanair Opens Biggest In-House MRO at Madrid Barajas, Spain
Ryanair has inaugurated its biggest in‑house maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre at Madrid‑Barajas Airport, marking the airline’s largest dedicated facility to date. The new hub consolidates maintenance for its Boeing 737‑800 fleet, allowing Ryanair to perform more work internally...
The First Flying Taxis Could Start Operating in 2026 — Will This New Form of Transport Actually Take Off?
Flying‑taxi pioneers Joby Aviation and Archer plan to debut eVTOL services in Dubai by 2026, marking the first commercial rollout of electric vertical take‑off aircraft. However, regulators such as the FAA and EASA still require extensive certification, with experts projecting...
Brazil Launches Public Consultation on National AAM Policy
The Brazilian Ministry of Ports and Airports has opened a public consultation to draft a National Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) policy that will regulate drones and electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for cargo and passenger transport. The consultation...
Korea Airports Corporation to Build UAM Test Hub
Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) will build a dedicated urban air mobility (UAM) vertiport test hub at the KINTEX exhibition center in Goyang, northwest of Seoul. The facility, slated for completion by 2027, is...
New Specs Emerge on Mysterious Russian Interceptor Drone
Ukrainian defense analyst Serhii Beskrestnov disclosed technical details of Russia’s Yolka interceptor drone, a short‑range, daylight‑only system designed for kinetic engagement of hostile UAVs. The drone can travel up to 200 km/h, operates within a 3‑kilometre radius, and tolerates wind speeds...
Kayhan Targets Investors, Insurers with Expanded Orbital Intelligence Platform
Kayhan Space unveiled Satcat Terminal, an AI‑driven platform that translates orbital data into business insights for investors and insurers, echoing the functionality of a Bloomberg Terminal for space assets. The service draws on a catalog of more than 36,000 tracked...
Somalia Denies Baidoa Flight Halt, Calls Claims Propaganda
Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority says commercial flights between Mogadishu and Baidoa continue without restrictions, rejecting media claims of a suspension. The denial comes after reports that the South West State’s capital cut ties with the federal government amid a constitutional...
7Air Appoints Juan Nunez as Chief Operating Officer
7Air has promoted Juan Nunez to chief operating officer and accountable executive, a year after securing FAA certification. Nunez, who previously led flight operations at 7Air and served as director of operations for the FAA, will oversee regulatory compliance and...
T-20 Days: Smile to Launch on 9 April
The European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences will launch the Smile mission on a Vega‑C rocket from French Guiana on Thursday 9 April at 08:29 CEST. The spacecraft will perform the first X‑ray imaging of Earth’s magnetic field and monitor...
Sri Lanka’s Mattala Airport Proposed as a Contingency Hub for Gulf Carriers
Sri Lanka has offered Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport as a contingency hub for Gulf carriers after widespread closures of Middle East airspace disrupted Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi operations. The 3,500‑metre runway can accommodate Airbus A350, Boeing 777 and A380...
HENSOLDT Signs Long-Term Supply Deal with UMS
HENSOLDT has secured a long‑term supply agreement with United Monolithic Semiconductors (UMS) to receive 900,000 gallium‑nitride (GaN) components for its radar systems by 2030. The deal aims to reinforce supply‑chain resilience and expand production capacity amid rising global demand for...
AI-Driven Ground Operations: Lessons From Frankfurt Airport in Real Time
Frankfurt Airport has deployed AI‑driven computer‑vision to monitor more than 30 turnaround events, delivering real‑time timestamps and predictive insights. The system provides unprecedented visibility, allowing precise crew and equipment deployment and improving aircraft ready‑time forecasts. Implementation emphasized human‑centred design, data...
Bits: Good Etihad Flight Deals, Hyatt Opens in the Algarve, Edinburgh Grand Opens Its Spa
Etihad has rolled out business‑class fares to major Asian and Australian cities, with prices ranging from £1,562 to £2,549 and a booking deadline of 24 March. Hyatt opened Masana Algarve, a 33‑suite, 4‑star resort in Olhos de Água, expanding its Destination by...
US F-35 Stealth Fighter Hit by Suspected Iranian Fire
A US F‑35 stealth fighter was reportedly struck by suspected Iranian fire and performed an emergency landing at a regional American base, with the pilot emerging in stable condition. US Central Command confirmed the landing but did not verify the...
Alaska Airlines and FedEx Planes Narrowly Avoid Each Other at Newark Airport
A near‑miss occurred at Newark Liberty International Airport when an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 and a FedEx Boeing 777 approached intersecting runways simultaneously. Air traffic control instructed the Alaska pilot to abort the landing after the FedEx cargo plane received clearance for...
Sydney-Bound Delta Flight Hit by Extreme Turbulence, Crew Members Taken to Hospital
Delta Air Lines’ A350 from Los Angeles to Sydney encountered extreme turbulence during its descent, jolting passengers and crew. Four flight attendants reported injuries, and three were taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for evaluation, while the airline said no passengers...
Europe's Top 20 Airline Groups by Passengers 2025: Ryanair Extends Its Lead over Lufthansa Group
Ryanair remained Europe’s largest airline group in 2025, transporting 206.4 million passengers, its seventh consecutive year at the top. The airline’s lead over Lufthansa Group, the second‑largest carrier with 135.0 million passengers, widened to 71.4 million, surpassing the combined traffic of all but...
NASA's Artemis Missions Promise a Return to the Moon—But When?
NASA’s Artemis II crewed lunar flyby is slated for April 2026, marking the first human deep‑space mission in over five decades. The program’s flagship landing mission, Artemis III, has been pushed back, with a crewed touchdown now expected in 2028 under the Artemis IV...
China Considers Volcanic Site For Its First Moon Landing
China is targeting a crewed lunar landing in 2030 and has identified the volcanic Rimae Bode region as the preferred site after evaluating 106 candidates and narrowing them to 14. The area’s mix of dark pyroclastic deposits, mare basalts, rille...
Apache Helicopter Shoots Down Drones in Europe for First Time in Combat Exercise
The U.S. Army’s 2-159th Attack Battalion employed AH‑64E Apache helicopters to shoot down unmanned aircraft during Operation Skyfall at Germany’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, marking the first European air‑to‑air drone engagement. The Apaches used 30mm APEX proximity rounds, a capability previously demonstrated...
Canada-Japan Agreement Signals Shift to Dual-Use Space Defence Tech
Canada and Japan have signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that merges their space and defence industrial bases. The deal expands the earlier Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement, targeting joint development of space communications, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. By moving...
EgyptAir A350-900 Enters Service with Panasonic Avionics IFEC Solutions
EgyptAir has launched its new A350‑900 equipped with Panasonic Avionics’ full IFEC suite, becoming the first carrier worldwide to operate the Modular Interactive (MI) authoring platform. The cloud‑based MI tool lets the airline swiftly customize and deploy content, while the...
From India to Israel: What the World’s Top Air Defense Systems
A new tiered architecture of air‑defense systems now protects everything from short‑range rockets to near‑space threats. Russia’s S‑500, the U.S. Patriot and THAAD, Israel’s Iron Dome, Europe’s SAMP/T, China’s HQ‑9 and India’s Akash each occupy distinct range and cost niches....
Kaluderovic in Foreign Policy: The Drone Attrition Tap
Clara Kaluderovic’s recent Foreign Policy piece highlights the accelerating attrition of Iranian drones deployed across the Middle East. While Iran continues to mass‑produce low‑cost loitering munitions, battlefield losses are outpacing its output, forcing Tehran to tap deeper into regional supply...
Dogfighting in Space Won't Look Like the Movies, but This Company Wants in on It
True Anomaly, a stealth‑born startup, is building the Jackal satellite platform— a refrigerator‑sized, highly maneuverable spacecraft designed for low‑cost, mass‑produced space‑to‑space engagements. The company has already flown two test missions and plans a third, while securing roughly $400 million in venture...
DPE Class Action Targets FAA Termination Policies
Two former Designated Pilot Examiners have filed a class‑action lawsuit in federal court in Florida against the Federal Aviation Administration, alleging that recent policy changes eliminated the appeal process for examiner terminations. The complaint claims the FAA’s new enforcement procedures...
Register Now: The Energy Imperative Driving the Push Toward Orbital Data Centers
The surge in AI and cloud workloads is straining global electricity grids, prompting industry leaders to explore orbital data centers as a potential solution. SpaceNews and StarCatcher, together with the Commercial Space Federation, are hosting a virtual panel on March 31...
What Is Rapid Sentry, the UK’s Mysterious Air Defence System?
The Royal Air Force has unveiled Rapid Sentry, a short‑range air‑defence system built to counter hostile drones. It fires Thales‑manufactured Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM/Martlet) capable of reaching Mach 1.5 and engaging targets up to 8 km away. The system is expected to...
'Miracle': Europe Reconnects with Lost Spacecraft
The European Space Agency has re‑established communication with the Proba‑3 coronagraph satellite after it lost contact in February. The spacecraft entered survival mode when its solar panels turned away from the Sun, draining its batteries. ESA engineers used a brief...
FAA Picks 8(a) Firm for $295M Technical Center Support Contract
Quecon, an 8(a) service‑disabled veteran‑owned firm, secured a potential $295 million, seven‑year Second Level Engineering Support contract for the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center. The award, selected from three proposals, covers a broad portfolio including engineering studies, system assurance, safety...
U.S. Space Force Awards $446.8 Million Agreement to Kratos for MEO Missile Tracking Ground Segment
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command awarded Kratos Technology & Training Solutions a $446.8 million Ground Management and Integration contract to build the command‑and‑control backbone for the Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking program in medium‑earth‑orbit. The agreement, structured as an...
NATO Tests Drone Interception Systems in Latvia
NATO launched its first testing, evaluation, verification and validation (TEVV) campaign for unmanned aircraft systems and counter‑UAS technologies at Latvia’s Sēlija Military Training Area from March 9‑13, 2026. The exercise gathered defense‑industry firms from NATO members, Ukraine, operational users and government officials...
AURA AERO Granted Permission to Build Electric Aircraft Factory in Toulouse
AURA AERO has secured a building permit for its 50,000‑square‑metre AURA Factory at Toulouse‑Francazal Airport, marking a major step toward mass‑producing low‑carbon aircraft. The project is backed by a €95 million European Commission Innovation Fund grant and aims to generate €2 billion...
Portal Space Systems and Paladin Space Plan Debris Removal Service
Portal Space Systems has teamed with Australian startup Paladin Space to launch a commercial orbital‑debris removal service. The partnership will mount Paladin’s Triton payload on Portal’s highly maneuverable Starburst spacecraft, which can change velocity by one kilometre per second. Scheduled...
Portal, Paladin Team On Debris Removal Service
Portal Space Systems and Paladin Space have formed a partnership to launch a Debris Removal as a Service (DRAAS) offering that can capture and dispose of 20‑50 pieces of orbital junk per mission. The solution combines Portal’s maneuverable Starburst spacecraft...
AirCairo Selects Aeroprime for India GSA Services
AirCairo has appointed Aeroprime Group to act as its General Sales Agent for cargo operations in India and the United Arab Emirates, extending a partnership that previously covered passenger sales. The deal gives Aeroprime responsibility for cargo sales, operational coordination...