Airship Revival: 21st‑Century Renaissance Takes Flight
A 21st century Renaissance in lighter-than-air vehicles? Mark Piesling examines progress in airships #avgeek https://t.co/UvkccWNHnw https://t.co/LIzyTaTGGt
ASTS Clears Technical Hurdle, Targets Six Satellites Monthly
$ASTS just crossed the Rubicon With the largest commercial antenna ever deployed now operational, the technical risk is gone. Focus shifts to a production cadence of 6 satellites per month. Pitch by @CrossroadsOnX https://t.co/djAsgaqhct
EVTOL Preliminary Design and Validation Case Study Released
New on the @AeroSociety YouTube channel - #eVTOL Aircraft Preliminary Design & Validation – A Case Study #avgeek https://t.co/gZ2cUoDiih https://t.co/2eFUq9flrb
Inside JAL123: How Routine Turned Tragedy
Revisiting one of the most haunting aviation stories I’ve ever covered: Japan Airlines Flight 123 — the deadliest single-aircraft crash in history. Part 1 of my series with Lars Perkins explores how a routine flight became an unimaginable tragedy — and...
British Airways Revives Melbourne Service After 20 Years
After roughly 20 years, British Airways will be returning to Melbourne, Australia, thanks to a new fifth freedom Dreamliner route. https://t.co/LHsAw9hksw
Mars Missions Hinge on 26‑month Launch Windows
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. One thing that always fascinates me about space missions is this: SpaceX’s Starship does not fly to Mars in a straight line. It follows a Hohmann transfer orbit, an elliptical path around the Sun that...
Falcon 9 Reaches Parking Orbit, 10,020 Starlinks Deployed
Falcon 9 now in parking orbit. There are now 10020 Starlinks in orbit (although 25 of them are still attached to the Falcon 9 for another 50 min or so, until the stage's circularization burn and satellite deployment).
Asian Airlines Hike Fuel Surcharges as Prices Surge
Malaysia Airlines and Firefly rolled out fuel surcharges in phases from March 11 and March 25, while Batik Air Malaysia and AirAsia X have followed. Across Asia, carriers such as Cathay Pacific and IndiGo are taking similar steps, although Air...
Most KZ-11 Payloads
Seven of the eight payloads from the KZ-11 launch cataloged in a 528 x 541 km x 97.5 deg sun synch orbit with 1030LT plane. The upper stage is in a 284 x 1059 km x 97.3 deg...
Yaogan 50‑02 Adjusts Orbit After Launch
Yaogan 50-02 cataloged in a 731 x 945 km x 142.0 deg orbit; upper stage did an orbit lowering burn to 573 x 836 km.
New Tech Mimics Birds for Ultra‑slow Takeoff
Cracking the Code of Slow Flight: Engineering Bird-Style Takeoff via @ZappyZappy7 #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology #Tech https://t.co/NJlmpkZBdY
Humanoid Robot Successfully Pilots Aircraft in Test
#WhosNext? Airline Pilots? Scientists Build Humanoid #Robot That Can Pilot a Plane. (Futurism) #AI #Robotics https://t.co/bcdVuA59Ro https://t.co/i6r9BkJ6uY
Growlers Deploy Buggy New Jamming Pods in Iran Strikes
EA-18G Growler With Split Load Of New And Old Jamming Pods Seen Supporting Iran Strikes A Pentagon report says the new pods are still having significant teething issues even though they are being used in active conflicts. https://t.co/5jlBt3Hm2w
Air Force Postpones B‑52 Radar Upgrades Amid Cost Overruns
The Air Force has adjusted its B-52 radar upgrade plans, pushing some capability (and the radome redesign) out for future increments amid delays and cost overruns: https://t.co/8C4uYpv0UU
Italy Seeks ITU Extension After 2025 Gapfiller Loss
Italian @MinisteroDifesa to launch Sicral 3A & 3B milsatcom satellites on @SpaceX Falcon 9s in mid- and late-2027, asks @ITU for deadline extension following loss of gapfiller sat in 2025 that was to have reserved the spectrum. @Thales_Alenia_S @telespazio.https://t.co/JAq9HbXWwy https://t.co/fNQxtLFeoI
NVIDIA Teams Up to Deploy AI Computing in Orbit
Space computing is moving from concept to reality 🛰️ #NVIDIAGTC news: NVIDIA is collaborating with @AetherfluxUSA, @Axiom_Space, @KeplerComms, @planet, Sophia Space and Starcloud to bring AI and accelerated computing into orbit, powering geospatial intelligence and autonomous space operations. Learn more → https://t.co/YLdtwTat7C @nvidianewsroom @NVIDIAGTC
Lufthansa Secures Certification for Most 787 Business Seats
In a positive development, Lufthansa has finally managed to get most of its Boeing 787 Allegris business class seats certified. This is excellent news for passengers and the airline. https://t.co/mkZ8QXczLF
Satellite Show's Shortlist Overlooks Key Industry Leader Charlie Ergen
This shortlist for Satellite Executive of the Year makes me feel that SatShow no longer has its finger on the pulse of the most significant industry developments... (yes the SES-Intelsat merger is a big deal but shouldn't Charlie Ergen be...
Cheap Drone Defenses Drive Expensive Russian Strike Packages
Many of the early countermeasures to cheap OWA drones are also relatively cheap, such as mobile machinegun teams. This requires the modernization of the drones, employing them in greater numbers, and new methods of employment to overcome cheap countermeasures, which...
Lynk Seeks Partnerships to Build World’s Cheapest Constellation
Lynk: "We want to build the most cost-effective constellation in the world. We need to build partnerships to compete against some of the bigger guys who seem to have endless money and ambition" https://t.co/HQZGajsIqU via Michelle Donegan
Ukraine's Sting Interceptor Could Halt Iran Drone Assault
Defenses in the Persian Gulf are collapsing as Iran continues large drone attacks, but there's a country that already has the answer. Enter Ukraine's Sting interceptor. Note: name correction at the end 📸: Wild Hornets #drone #iranwar #geopolitics
Spain Eyes Airbus Space for NG3 After NG2 Failure
Spain's @Defensagob, #Hisdesat on verge of selecting @AirbusSpace to replace Airbus SpainSat NG2 sat, which failed 5 wks after launch from 'impact of high-energy space particle in critical area of satellite.' SpainSat NG3 replacement could launch in 2030.https://t.co/l5TJ7Tc01C https://t.co/nHIzh6iWXD
Dubai Halts All Foreign Flights at DXB, DWC
Dubai Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice today: landing permissions at DXB and DWC are suspended for all foreign operators until further notice, citing the prevailing regional situation and safety of airlines, crews, passengers, and the public. Emirates has already...
Atlas Air Becomes Airbus A350F’s Biggest Customer
News from @airbus as cargo carrier Atlas Air Worldwide places a firm order for 20 x A350Fs - becoming the biggest customer for Airbus' flagship widebody freighter. #avgeek https://t.co/EAAVLfsF8f
T‑Mobile’s T‑Satellite Adds Starlink Support, Ready for AST SpaceMobile
"Operations on T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service powered by Starlink will be supported immediately, but it also is designed to work with AST SpaceMobile—the satellite D2D provider for AT&T and Verizon in the U.S." https://t.co/FBUFQLhMfg Noteworthy that enterprise devices have this
Chinese Astronauts Install Debris Shields During 7‑hour Spacewalk
Astronauts Zhang Lu and Wu Fei made a spacewalk from the Chinese Space Station from about 0430 UTC until 1135 UTC Mar 16, continuing installation of external debris protection panels https://t.co/GKPg66uFEF
KTOS: Undervalued Drone Leader Poised for Margin Surge
KTOS at $87.53 just hit a high-conviction BUY setup. Pure-play leader in autonomous drones, hypersonics & next-gen defense electronics — exactly where DoD is front-loading billions. 12x forward sales while margins are about to expand sharply from development to production scale. Market...
Progress MS-31 Departs ISS, Paving Path for Next Resupply
Progress MS-31 undocks from ISS to clear the way for the next resupply mission: https://t.co/8NFAf26ZvR https://t.co/rvJcBU6rTq
A Century-Old Secret Space Dream Ignored by Everyone
100 years since someone had a crazy idea and believed in it. Only Goddard, his wife Esther, and a couple of assistants witnessed it. It didn't even make the local newspapers, and Goddard kept details secret for years afterward due to...
Aeroflot Expands Asian Routes Despite Sanctions, Outpacing Rivals
Aeroflot arriving Guangzhou(and many other Asian cities)... daily service still going strong despite sanctions and the war. They’re flying to more destinations than some Middle Eastern airlines right now.
Progress MS-31 Undocks From ISS Poisk Module
The Progress MS-31 cargo ship undocked from the ISS Poisk module at about 1324:12 UTC Mar 16
Severe Weather Sparks Widespread Flight Delays, Stay Patient
Folks traveling by air today, it is going to be a day. MSP is digging out of a blizzard. A crazy, high speed front passed through ATL this morning. This disrupted the morning bank of flights and caused some international...
United Leads with Starlink‑powered Seatback IFE
Connected seatback IFE is on the horizon and @united, which is installing @Starlink across its fleet, is leading the charge. "They're starting to lead this industry in digital engagement," says Andy Masson of @PanasonicAero, United's IFE provider. https://t.co/WJIZdT2yiC #PaxEx https://t.co/LrBgB4gR44
Astroscale Shifts Focus to Military, Secures 2028 Deorbit Contract
@astroscale_HQ: record rev, reduced loss for 9 months to Jan. 31; commercial GEO life-extension mission looks uncertain; contract w/@isaraerospace for ELSA-M to deorbit @EutelsatGroup OneWeb sat, in 2028. Security/military is where main market is now.https://t.co/qQthiO1SI0 https://t.co/8lBc4kQgMD
Drone Attack Threatens Dubai's Aviation‑Driven Economy
Dubai under serious stress. Airport Dubai atau DXB tutup akibat serangan drone berdekatan. Implications? •Home of Emirates, the world’s most profitable airline, pretax profit USD6.2b (31 Mar 25). •Dubai Airport is the 2nd busiest in the world. •The aviation sector amat penting,...
Air China Restarts Beijing‑Pyongyang Direct Flights, Business‑Class Only
Bloomberg: Air China will resume direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on March 30, according to booking information on travel platform Ctrip. Only business-class was available for the March 30 Pyongyang-Beijing flight, for $990. https://t.co/C3Gy22RFny
Kuaizhou-11 Deploys Eight Commercial Satellites
LAUNCH at 0412 UTC Mar 16 of a Kuaizhou-11 from Jiuquan, putting eight commercial sats in orbit: Juntian-1-04A, Dongpo-11, Dongpo-12, Dongpo-16, Weitong-1-01, Xiguang-1-06, Yuxing-3-05, and Yuxing-3-06.
Vietnam Faces Flight Cuts After Regional Jet Fuel Bans
Vietnam braces for flight cuts from April after China, Thailand ban jet fuel exports https://t.co/acAdeGg5Sf
500‑plane Boeing Deal with China Likely Delayed
Which would likely mean a 500 Boeing airplane deal with China would be pushed, too.
America's Pride in B‑21 Meets Public Funding Apathy
I sort of just figured all Americans would be proud of building the absolute best when it comes to aircraft. (this is from a post I did about the new B-21 stealth bomber and Plant 42 where it's being made) I think...
Starlink’s First 100K Terminals Cost $2,500 Each
Starlink is a good example of this, everyone now seems to forget that the first 100K+ terminals cost ~$2500 each to make...
Starlink Stats Updated, Dummy Simulators Removed From Totals
Starlink stats pages updated at https://t.co/m5QkzkhI2u By popular demand I have now excluded the dummy Starlink simulators from the grand totals.
Immigrants Powered Moon Landing and Modern Chip Revolution
"We were doing just fine without immigrants" is a commonly repeated trope. Just to to take the examples listed and the immigrants who made essential contributions... Landing on the moon: Wernher von Braun (Germany) → Chief architect of the Saturn V rocket, the...
Four Launchers and AN/TPY-2 Radar Still in Korea
While the United States may have reallocated some interceptors from South Korea to the Middle East, as of March 12 there remain at least four launchers and the AN/TPY-2 radar on site. Lovely image from @planet. https://t.co/PJgsi28VXe
China Launches Second Yaogan‑50 on CZ‑6A
LAUNCH at 1322 UTC Mar 15 of a Chang Zheng 6A from Taiyuan with the second Yaogan-50 satellite. The first Yaogan-50 is in a 950 km retrograde (142 deg inclination) orbit.
AA Pays $4K to Relinquish Seat, Still Div
American Airlines Offered $4,000 To Give Up A Seat To Aspen — The Flight Diverted Anyway - View from the Wing https://t.co/brOlQ1bdWb
Space Launches Surge: 4,500 Objects in 2025
As many of you know, I’m thinking more about the Space-Tech intersection with national defense and physical AI era we are about to be entering in. SpaceX’s IPO is symbolic. The race of rocket launches is about to accelerate wildly in...
Aegean Loses Two Airbus A321XLRs Originally Meant for JetBlue
Greek Star Alliance airline Aegean was supposed to take delivery of two Airbus A321XLRs initially intended for JetBlue, but that's no longer happening. Here are the details of this strange development. https://t.co/5iPVlFCR8X
F-35 Software Upgrades Stagnate, No New Capability Delivered
We break- DoD test office annual report: Attempts to provide upgraded software for F-35 jets have “stagnated” and no new combat capability was delivered last year, according to the Pentagon’s testing office, even as the fighter jets fly missions over...
Thompson Secures Major Lufthansa Group Seat Deal
Thompson is the big winner in Lufthansa Group's latest business seat choices, as management snaps up off-the-shelf Vantage XL for Discover Airlines, Edelweiss and Lufthansa's A380s. ZIM, RECARO and Panasonic have also secured work packages. https://t.co/aDYxUsv2V0 #PaxEx https://t.co/hViBepGRYW