Helium-3 From the Moon: New U.S. Department of Energy Contract
Black Moon Energy Corp. has secured a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Isotope Program to supply lunar Helium‑3, marking a pivotal step toward commercializing the isotope. The company plans to scale production within eight years and will conduct a robotic lunar delineation mission in the next five years to de‑risk operations. Helium‑3, abundant in the Moon’s regolith, is touted for fusion, quantum computing, medical diagnostics, and cryogenics. The DOE remains the sole federal entity authorized to distribute the isotope, underscoring the strategic importance of the deal.
France & Germany Give 6th-Gen FCAS Fighter Program One Last Chance: Joint Mediation To Resolve Deadlock
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have agreed to launch a joint mediation mission aimed at reconciling Dassault Aviation and Airbus and rescuing the €100‑billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme. The effort, announced at an EU...
How Uncrewed Rotary Platforms Are Shaping Approaches to Contested Logistics
The defense sector is accelerating development of uncrewed rotary aircraft to support logistics in contested environments. Airbus leads the effort with its MQ‑72C, built for the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector demonstration. These UAVs are derived from existing crewed...
Quito Airport Named Best Regional Airport in South America for 11th Year
Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito was named Skytrax’s Best Regional Airport in South America for the 11th consecutive year, also earning the title of Cleanest Airport in the region. The airport placed third for staff quality and fourth worldwide...
Our New Study Explores How AI Can Reduce the Climate Impact of Air Travel.
Google and American Airlines integrated AI contrail forecasts into the airline’s flight‑planning system. In a trial of 2,400 scheduled transatlantic flights, routes that followed the AI‑generated avoidance plans saw a 62% drop in contrail formation compared with a control group....
How the US Copied a Cheap Iranian Kamikaze Drone and Used It to Bomb Iran
The United States reverse‑engineered Iran’s cheap Shahed loitering‑munition drone to create the Low‑Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (Lucas). By December 2025 a squadron of Lucas drones was operating in the Middle East, targeting Iranian sites. Each Lucas unit costs roughly...
Getting Better Outcomes In Space: How Will the UK Embrace the Challenge?
At Space‑Comm London, a panel of government and industry leaders warned that space has become a core national security arena, with satellite jamming and anti‑satellite weapons now routine. Speakers stressed the need for the UK to protect its interests by...
Artemis Moon Missions Take Center Stage at Wichita Engineers Week Banquet
Alicia Dwyer Cianciolo, a veteran NASA systems engineer, outlined the Artemis program’s Human Landing Systems (HLS) at the Wichita Engineers Week banquet. She explained that Artemis III will now be uncrewed, while Artemis IV remains on track for a crewed lunar south‑pole landing...
Eileen Collins on What It Takes to Become Space Shuttle Commander
Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and later command a Space Shuttle, appears on SpaceNews’ Space Minds podcast to discuss the habits and leadership principles that propelled her career. Hosted by David Ariosto, the episode blends personal anecdotes with...
Hiding in Plain Sight: The Biomimetic Drone Patrolling Our Coastlines in the Guise of a Seagull
Guard From Above unveiled the Seagull Evo, a sub‑1.5 kg fixed‑wing drone that replicates a seagull’s silhouette and flight dynamics for covert maritime surveillance. The platform carries electro‑optical or infrared payloads, flies up to 59 minutes, and can launch by hand...
IATA Urges EU to Review Emissions Trading System to Protect Aviation Competitiveness
The International Air Transport Association is urging the European Union to overhaul its Emissions Trading System, arguing that the current scheme threatens aviation competitiveness and adds costly complexity. IATA recommends full alignment with the ICAO‑led CORSIA framework for all international...
Distributed Operations Enable Seventh Air Force to Sustain Airpower During Freedom Shield 26
During the Freedom Shield 26 exercise, the Seventh Air Force showcased its distributed operations model, integrating U.S. and South Korean air assets through the Combined Air Component Command (CACC). The drill validated command‑and‑control procedures that keep airpower sustained across the...
NewSpace Systems Opens Africa’s Largest Commercial Space Hardware Manufacturing Facility
NewSpace Systems inaugurated a 5,200 m² manufacturing hub in Somerset West, South Africa, becoming the continent’s largest commercial space hardware facility. The plant features a 1,260 m² ISO‑14644‑1 cleanroom, six LEAN‑certified assembly lines, and dedicated labs for GNC components such as sun...
South Korea’s Arms Exports Are Now Involved in the Iran War
South Korea’s defence industry has become a key supplier to the United Arab Emirates, delivering M‑SAM 2 interceptors that have achieved a reported 96 percent hit rate against Iranian missiles. The conflict has forced Seoul to air‑lift interceptor reloads into an active...
K2 to Launch Its First High-Powered Satellite for Space Compute
Space startup K2 Space is set to launch Gravitas, a two‑ton, 40‑meter satellite capable of generating 20 kW of electrical power, on a Falcon 9 before month‑end. Backed by $450 million in funding and a $3 billion valuation, the mission will carry 12 customer...
GMV-Led Consortium Launches MYRIAD to Advance AI-Driven Satellite Intelligence for EU Defense
The European Defence Fund has launched the MYRIAD research project, a 48‑month, €5 million initiative coordinated by GMV to embed AI into satellite imagery analysis for EU defence. Nine European partners will develop multi‑sensor fusion, radiometric calibration and explainable AI to...
Alpine Eagle Scales Sentinel Production with New Munich Facility and European Expansion
Alpine Eagle is scaling production of its Sentinel counter‑drone system, adding a 2,000‑square‑metre interceptor plant near Munich and expanding across Europe after its German Bundeswehr launch. The company has grown from 12 to 50 staff and aims to reach 100...
Tulum’s New Airport Has Lost Early Flight Momentum as Airlines Cut Back Service
Tulum International Airport opened in December 2023 with strong U.S. and Canadian carrier support, but airlines have since trimmed schedules. American and United halved their April 2024 flights by April 2025, while Delta showed only modest growth. Air Canada announced...
Air Charter Scotland Secures Continuation of Wick-Aberdeen-Wick PSO Route
Air Charter Scotland has secured additional government funding to keep the Wick‑Aberdeen‑Wick public service obligation (PSO) route operating until 14 August 2026. The carrier launched the lifeline service on 15 January after Eastern Airways withdrew, initially using a Beechcraft King Air 200 and adding...
Artemis II Rollout Set, Crew Begins Quarantine
NASA plans to begin the Artemis II rollout at 8 p.m. EDT on March 19, moving the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B via crawler‑transporter 2. The four‑mile journey may take up to 12 hours, after...
Kongsberg Awarded F-35 Lots 20-22 Production Contract
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace signed a NOK 2 bn (~$209 m) contract with Lockheed Martin to supply components for F‑35 Lots 20‑22, extending production through 2030. The deal covers rudders, vertical leading edges and landing‑gear close‑out panels manufactured in Norway. It sustains Norway’s industrial...
Bay Area Rep. John Garamendi Confirms Travis Air Force Base Used by US in Iran War
Rep. John Garamendi confirmed that aircraft from Travis Air Force Base are actively supporting U.S. military operations against Iran, including refueling and transport missions. He noted that, as of Wednesday, no Travis personnel have been injured, though the risk remains....
Eastern European Helicopter Modernisation Could Open Doors for Western Manufacturers
Eastern European nations are accelerating helicopter modernisation to replace ageing Soviet‑era fleets, spurred by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Hungary’s recent purchase of 16 Airbus H225M helicopters exemplifies the region’s pivot toward Western technology. The drive is motivated by...
‘Spacewoman’ Review: Mission Driven
The documentary "Spacewoman" chronicles the life of Col. Eileen Collins, the first female space shuttle pilot and commander, tracing her journey from a modest upbringing in Elmira to historic NASA missions. Director Hannah Berryman blends personal interviews with archival footage...
Guerrilla RF Expands Aerospace & Defense Focus with New SatCom Initiative
Guerrilla RF announced an expanded aerospace and defense focus, unveiling a new satellite communications (SatCom) initiative that adds more than 100 commercial‑off‑the‑shelf RFIC and MMIC solutions for both ground and space platforms. The company released a SatCom product selection guide...
HyImpulse Signs Launch Agreement with SaxaVord
Germany’s HyImpulse Technologies signed a launch service agreement to fly its SR75 hybrid suborbital rocket from SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands, targeting a Q3 2026 lift‑off. SaxaVord, equipped with three pads, telemetry, and a UK Civil Aviation Authority licence...
Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific & Singapore Airlines Top List of World's Best Airlines for 2026
AirlineRatings.com released its 2026 world’s best airline rankings, evaluating carriers on onboard product and passenger experience rather than public voting. Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines occupy the top three spots among full‑service airlines, while HK Express is crowned...
Apex Signs First Japanese Bus Contract With NEC
Apex Space announced its first Japanese contract, selling an Aries satellite bus to NEC for a 2027 low‑Earth‑orbit optical communications demo. NEC plans to merge its long‑standing payload expertise with Apex’s standardized, rapid‑development platform to accelerate the mission. The deal...
Dawn’s Suborbital Spaceplane Completes Radar Tracking Experiment with Defence Science and Technology
New Zealand’s Defence Science and Technology agency and the Royal Navy teamed with Dawn Aerospace to conduct the DARTE radar‑tracking experiment, using the Aurora suborbital spaceplane off the Canterbury coast. The trial demonstrated that the frigate HMNZS Te Kaha’s surveillance radar can...
Why American-Made Propulsion Is the Future of Global UAV Missions
Northwest UAV (NWUAV) is reshaping UAS propulsion by delivering heavy‑fuel engines that run on JP‑8, JP‑5, and Jet‑A, eliminating the need for gasoline in tactical drones. The company’s all‑American, AS9100D‑certified supply chain guarantees secure, kill‑switch‑free components, aligning with NATO’s Single‑Fuel...
The Science of Splashdown
The article explains that splashdown is a complex fluid‑impact problem where capsule shape, parachute timing, sea state, and crew posture determine survivability. It traces splashdown from Mercury through Apollo to modern Orion and SpaceX Dragon missions, highlighting why water remains...
ESI Motion at Satellite 2026 and AUSA Global Force 2026
ESI Motion announced it will attend Satellite 2026 in Washington, D.C., and AUSA Global Force 2026 in Huntsville, Alabama, to showcase its high‑performance motion controllers, actuators, and space‑rated battery systems. The company will engage commercial and government space leaders on satellite attitude...
Virgin Australia Plans Modest Capacity Gains as Aircraft Deliveries Finally Ramp Up
Virgin Australia will receive seven new aircraft in the second half of FY2026, meeting its full‑year delivery target after a period of delays. Its regional arm, VARA, is slated for four Embraer E190‑E2 deliveries, enabling retirement of older planes. The...
Anduril: New Factory Will Start Making Drone Wingman in Just ‘Days’
Anduril announced that its new Arsenal-1 manufacturing plant in Columbus, Ohio, will start producing the YFQ-44A Fury drone wingman within days, ahead of the originally slated July 2026 start. The 5‑million‑square‑foot facility, adjacent to a dual 12,000‑foot runway airport, enables...
Firefly Aerospace Inc (FLY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Firefly Aerospace reported Q4 2025 revenue of $30.8 million, roughly double the prior quarter, and a backlog of $1.3 billion fueled by new NASA CLPS awards and a $177 million Blue Ghost Mission 4 contract. The company completed an $855 million acquisition of SciTech, adding...
Satellogic Inc (SATL) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Globalstar reported record full‑year 2025 revenue of $273 million, up 9% year‑over‑year, and achieved a 50% adjusted EBITDA margin at $136.1 million. Net loss narrowed dramatically to $7.6 million from $63.2 million a year earlier, while cash and cash equivalents rose to $447.5 million. The...
Space Command to Launch Wargame Series for Industry
U.S. Space Command will host the first of a quarterly "commercial wargames" series on March 23, inviting 25 industry firms to a classified tabletop exercise in Colorado Springs. The inaugural session will tackle the threat of weapons of mass destruction...
Hong Kong: AI, Robotics Drive New Aerospace Technologies
A research partnership between Hong Kong’s Space Robotics and Energy Centre and Southeast University is accelerating autonomous space‑robotics, AI‑enabled navigation, and deep‑space energy management. The collaboration, supported by HKUST labs, targets rugged robotic platforms, precision manipulation, and modular power systems...
Canadian Space Agency Terminates Lunar Rover Mission in 2026-27 Plan
The Canadian Space Agency’s 2026‑27 Departmental Plan announces a $913.9 million budget but mandates internal savings, leading to the outright termination of the Lunar Rover Mission approved in 2022. The cut begins with a $6.66 million reduction in 2026‑27 and will grow...
Modified Vulcan Expected to Launch This Summer
United Launch Alliance (ULA) plans to launch its first modified Vulcan rocket this summer, after accelerating pre‑planned upgrades to the engine nozzle and solid rocket boosters. The enhancements aim to improve performance margins and address issues highlighted by a February...
STRATCOM Boss: Pentagon Eyes Second B-21 Production Line
The Pentagon has approved a $4.5 billion deal to lift B‑21 production capacity by 25 percent and is now weighing a second manufacturing line to accelerate deliveries. Strategic Command chief Adm. Richard Correll urged Congress to expand the fleet to 145 aircraft,...
Russian Warplanes Flying Near US and Canada More Frequently: NORAD Boss
Russian warplanes are entering the U.S. and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones at a rate above historical norms, according to NORAD commander Gen. Gregory Guillot. In 2025 NORAD intercepted 16 long‑range Russian aircraft, with four more already this year, including...
US Air Force Special Operations Seeks Kamikaze Drones
The U.S. Air Force is issuing a Request for Information to acquire small, one‑way attack drones for its Special Operations Command. The desired system must fly 10‑20 km, carry a 1.5‑3 kg fragmentation warhead, and be operable by one or two soldiers...
Ligado Tells FCC That SkyTerra Next Proposal Won’t Cause Interference
Ligado filed a new FCC petition to modify its satellite license and host the SkyTerra Next L‑band payload on AST SpaceMobile’s low‑Earth‑orbit constellation. The company argues the deployment will operate within existing L‑band coordination agreements and will not interfere with...
Indy Airport Says ‘Hello Avelo’
Indianapolis International Airport announced that ultra‑low‑cost carrier Avelo Airlines will begin service on June 18, adding twice‑weekly nonstop flights to Concord, North Carolina, and New Haven, Connecticut. The routes make Avelo the airport’s 12th passenger airline and its fourth ULCC,...
Veovo Selected by Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to Strengthen Slot Coordination
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport has chosen Veovo, together with OneAlpha, to implement a modern slot coordination platform. The solution provides a daily, airport‑wide view of runway, apron and terminal capacity, allowing more accurate scheduling and real‑time alerts when limits are reached....
Blackwater Founder Backs Ukrainian Drone Tech Sales to US
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, has joined the board of Ukrainian drone‑software firm Swarmer and is championing its sale to the U.S. military. Swarmer raised $15 million in a Nasdaq offering, saw its shares jump roughly 500 % and claims its platform...
Market Analysis: The ISR Latency War and Who Wins When “Minutes” Decide Mission
Industry data released March 18, 2026 shows ISR is shifting from resolution‑focused satellites to latency‑first architectures. Commercial firms such as BlackSky and Planet Labs reported record revenues while emphasizing rapid data delivery, with BlackSky posting $107 million in 2025 revenue and a $345 million...
Fluorescent Ruby-Like Gems Have Been Found on Mars for the First Time
NASA's Perseverance rover has identified tiny corundum crystals—ruby or sapphire‑like gems—inside a Martian pebble named Hampden River. The rover’s SuperCam instrument used dual‑laser spectroscopy and luminescence imaging to match the spectral signature of the grains to laboratory ruby standards. This...
Defense Unicorns Demonstrates Rapid Software Delivery to F-22 Raptor
Defense Unicorns and the US Air Force Sustainment Center demonstrated rapid software installation on the F‑22 Raptor using the Unicorn Delivery Service (UDS), marking the first minute‑scale deployment directly onto the aircraft. The UDS enables approved software to be loaded...