Southwest Exits O'Hare After Five Years of Struggle
Southwest Airlines is pulling out of Chicago O'Hare Airport, roughly five years after launching service there. Why couldn't Southwest make service to one of the country's biggest airports work? https://t.co/YMtjlamyTo
Emirates Nears Full Capacity, Boosting Stranded Passengers
Emirates says full capacity is coming “within days”... currently at ~61% pre-war schedule after 46,000+ cancellations since late February(subject to airspace and ops approvals). Good for passengers stuck or rerouted... the airline is trying to push hard to get back...
Drone Proliferation Signals Imminent Autonomous Warfare
People still underestimate how many drones are being built, shipped, used, and getting blown up around the world. Autonomous wars are upon us.
Honda Leverages Decades of Combustion Mastery for Reusable Rocket
The Ascent of Precision: Why Honda’s Reusable Rocket Isn’t Just a Car Company’s Hobby - This wasn’t merely a Japanese automotive giant dabbling in space; this was Honda applying the rigorous, decades-long mastery of combustion and control systems.. https://t.co/MBZjOVVkSC
Iridium’s Rapid Downpayment Saved SpaceX’s Payroll
The second time was June 2010 when Iridium had to wire the downpayment immediately after signing the launch contract so SpaceX could make payroll the next day https://t.co/UeIt4PAY4O
Boeing 787‑9’s Sleek Lines Shine on Denver Climbout
Got to catch the 787-9 on the climbout DEN to Narita. Boeing built this jet with some gorgeous lines. https://t.co/OCtrIko09Q
Starlink Dominates D2D; Terrestrial Networks Still Superior
Good to see the #cluelesscult finally acknowledging that my Feb 2023 predictions that 1) Starlink would dominate the D2D market and 2) D2D performance will never match terrestrial networks were both totally correct...
Etihad Makes Chicago Its Largest US Market
Etihad Airways is expanding service to Chicago (ORD) in a major way, as the city will become Etihad's biggest market in the United States. What's driving this expansion? https://t.co/3cPXLKFwZa
Chinese Ceramic Endures 3272°F, Transforming Space Heat Shields
#WhatsNext? Scientists in China created ceramics that survive 3272°F, 1800°C! Could revolutionize how heat shields are used by spacecraft. (Engineering Post) #NewMaterials https://t.co/Wr6wLsUfxe
Taiwan's Chinese‑free Drones Soar Onto Ukraine Battlefield
The Economist: Taiwan’s bid to export drones free of Chinese parts is taking off—The island’s unmanned aerial vehicles are already in use on Ukraine’s front line https://t.co/0WgU5M7FCu
Boeing Tested In‑Flight Wi‑Fi Using 20,000 Pounds of Potatoes
#DidYouKnow? Boeing once filled an aircraft with 20,000 pounds of potatoes to test in-flight Wi-Fi performance. (Unbox Factory) https://t.co/7hLcb8Cxjz
Starlink Count Corrected to 9,967, Not 9,969
I've spent the evening chasing down errors in my data files. Please be aware that the total number of Starlinks currently in orbit is actually only 9967, and not 9969 as shown right now on my web page (should update...
E195‑E2 Eliminates Middle Seats with Roomy 2‑2 Layout
No middle seats on this aircraft. The Embraer E195-E2 gives you either a window or an aisle — that’s it. No middle seat drama. With a comfortable 2-2 layout, PW1900G geared turbofan engines and up to 5,500km range, this “small” jet quietly...
U.S. Airline Capacity Up 32% Yet Fuel Use Stagnates
This is the first in a series of data visualization projects we're rolling out from @theaircurrent. Amazing to chart the increase in efficiency in U.S. (and see the shocks) while capacity has increased 32% and airlines are burning nearly the...
Doc Shoemaker's First XB-1 Taxi Test Delivers Golden Audio
Back when “Doc” Shoemaker had fun doing XB-1’s first (baby) taxi test. The audio is gold. https://t.co/BgoVqX0zOd
Epic Fury's Iran Air Campaign: Likely Success?
"Does this air campaign have any chance of success?" ED HUNT assesses the strategic goals of #EpicFury against #Iran compared to other conflicts https://t.co/I4gSRmWewx https://t.co/1Pobq86Dk2
FBI Warns of Potential Ship‑launched Armed Drones
Drone Attacks On U.S. From The Sea Are A Known Possibility An FBI alert about the possibility of armed drones launched from a ship reflects real dangers even if the immediate threat is not credible. https://t.co/CbwY1nAmJR
Shiyan and CZ-2D Upper Stages Cataloged; Others Untracked
Shiyan 30-03, 30-04 and the CZ-2D upper stage cataloged in 587 x 593 km x 35.0 deg orbits following their launch on Mar 12. No orbit data yet for SatNet-LEO12 or Tenkoh-2.
Ukraine Bans Export of Shahed Interceptor Drones
Ukrainian Companies Prohibited From Exporting Shahed Interceptor Drones Waves of Iranian Shahed drone attacks across the Middle East have spurred widespread interest in Ukrainian interceptors. https://t.co/HIO47E6I2c
Progress MS-33 Sealed in Fairing for March 22 ISS Launch
Progress MS-33 cargo ship was encapsulated inside its fairing in preparation for an ISS resupply mission scheduled to lift off on March 22: https://t.co/mN4Hi2mIUG https://t.co/13WiUz4NSF
Sensofusion Unveils Portable Drone Factory in Shipping Container
Sensofusion has today announced the Tactical Drone Factory: a fully self-contained interceptor drone manufacturing facility built inside a standard shipping container. Shipping worldwide in May (export restrictions apply). https://t.co/h8FszYdeAo https://t.co/RgZ7xuuGiT
Emirates, Qatar Flights Fly Empty, First-Class Solo
Emirates And Qatar Flights Are Empty — Passengers Have Whole First Or Business Class Cabins To Themselves - View from the Wing https://t.co/WyPl6Tmz9c
Ariane 6 Poised as Amazon Leo’s Workhorse
Who had Ariane 6 as the booster that would emerge from the Vulcan/New Glenn/Ariane 6 triumvirate of new rockets to become a workhorse for Amazon Leo?
Chinese AI Turns Commercial Satellite Data Into Intelligence
Chinese AI Startup Watching US Military Assets in Middle East From Space So are a lot of actors... “The value of MizarVision’s output is not the raw satellite image. Any government can purchase commercial satellite passes. The value is the AI...
ATACMS Missile Sinks Iranian Submarine, Cripples Navy
Iranian Submarine Sunk By ATACMS Short Range Ballistic Missile ATACMS and PrSM ballistic missiles have played a key role in destroying Iran's Navy from afar. https://t.co/8ejVX64Vod
USAF Mobility Crews Finally Gain Situational Awareness Momentum
Far too early to say what happened as the investigation plays out. But something to watch is how USAF's mobility crews have been screaming for improved situational awareness on the bulk of its tankers and airlifters and it's finally getting...
Space Community Unites Behind NASA Authorization Act
Senate Commerce "WTAS" (What They are Saying) press release about the broad support in the space community for the NASA authorization act. https://t.co/6F7LmDkbDe
Guardian ISR Constellation to Lead Missile Defense, Launches 2027
.@Leonardo_live: Guardian ISR constellation a centerpiece of missile-defense dome; launches start 2027/28; space division CAGR >20% 2026-2030. @telespazio @thalesgroup @AirbusSpace @defis_eu @NATO.https://t.co/2TbiKQFFQ5 https://t.co/Z2WRU6VQv9
Space
In this week's Rocket Report: • Artemis II clears flight readiness review • SpaceX activates second Starbase launch pad • Firefly successfully returns to flight • Pentagon orders high-altitude missile interceptors https://t.co/MhSVS4wljv
U.S. Aims for Permanent Moon Base by 2030
The US Plans to Break Ground on a Permanent Moon Base by 2030. Here's What It Will Take. https://t.co/iFMEKPvEh5 https://t.co/ba8zh0uL7V
Nine Years Later, Tanker Crews Still Fly Together
From 2017, riding on a KC-135 over Iraq. Nine years later they are still at it. Active, Guard and Reserve tanker crews have been the most open and welcoming to me throughout my career covering military aviation. Horrible days for a...
US Uses Mostly Air‑Launched Munitions, Standoff Missiles 1%
In presser this morning, @PeteHegseth says that "only 1 percent" of the munitions the U.S. is dropping on Iran today are "standoff munitions," meaning Tomahawk missiles and the like. They've shifted almost exclusively, he says, to munitions launched from aircraft...
Ukraine Shows Airpower's Limits for Iran Conflict
The limits of airpower - what are the lessons from #Ukraine in #Iran ? #avgeek #defence #Iranwar https://t.co/qhtkN3j2VB https://t.co/h0v6Nal4fT
Astroscale UK Plans 2028 ELSA-M Satellite Deorbit Mission
.@Astroscale_UK to launch ELSA-M mission to deorbit @EutelsatGroup OneWeb sat on @isaraerospace Spectrum rocket in Japan's FY ending April 2028 "or later," @astroscale_HQ told investors. Launch to be from @AndoyaSpace Norway or Europe's Guiana Space Center. @esa @spacegovuk https://t.co/JrgZkgjmMZ
Israel Destroys World’s Sole KC‑747 Tanker, 55‑year‑old Legend
The world’s only KC-747 tanker (Boeing 747-131F 5-8107) was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran on March 7. This 55-year-old legend refueled IRIAF F-4E Phantoms during the daring 1981 Operation H-3 attack on Iraq’s H-3 base.
U.S. Depletes Years of Tomahawks Amid Iran Conflict
The US has burned through "years" of Tomahawk missiles in just days of the Iran war, per @FT. This was entirely predictable. @CNASdc data shows the Navy bought ZERO new TLAMs in FY2019, FY2024, and FY2025. Thread 🧵 https://t.co/MOTOIV1iJp
Ukraine Holds World's Most Advanced Drone Technology
Ukraine, as it turns out, has cards: the most advanced drone technology in the world
Wi‑Fi Can't Instantly Fix Indoor Satellite D2D Issues
No, Wi-Fi isn’t a simple overnight solution to solve the problem of satellite D2D not working indoors: https://t.co/CuHz7rOGwU
Cygnus NG-23 Unberthed by Canadarm‑2 at 1106 UTC March 12
The Cygnus NG-23 cargo ship was released into orbit by Canadarm-2 at 1106 UTC Mar 12; it has been at ISS since Dec 1. [I don't have the unberthing time, anyone have it?]
Xichang CZ-2D Launch Deploys Shiyan‑30‑03/04
LAUNCH at 2233 UTC Mar 12 of a CZ-2D from Xichang with the 试验三十号卫星03、04星 (Shiyan 30-03 and 30-04) satellites
NASA Plans March 18 Spacewalk Before Crew Return
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will do a spacewalk (#94) on March 18. Spacewalk 95 will be soon after, crew TBA. NASA bfg on March 16, 2:00 pm ET These are the EVAs Crew-11 intended to do before...
KC-135 Tanker Crashes in Iraq; Rescue Ongoing
KC-135 Tanker Crashes In Iraq During Operation Epic Fury Sortie U.S. Central Command says two aircraft were involved in the incident and that a search and rescue effort is currently underway. https://t.co/kNmwYcORgp
China Resumes Launches with CZ‑8A, Nine LEO Satellites
LAUNCH at 1948 UTC of a Chang Zheng 8A from Hainan Commercial Spaceport of nine Xingwang Digui (SatNet LEO) Group 20 satellites, the first Chinese orbital launch in a month after an unusual stand-down
Losing the CDS Jeopard
Must read thread. Is CDS being stitched up? (Lose this CDS over a current conflict & what happens to preparing/procurement for a more serious punch-up a few years down the line if equipment/readiness has got worse?)
Pentagon Lacks Data to Assess Hypersonic Missile Until 2025
We break on DOD DOT&E report: The Pentagon testing office said it won’t get enough data to evaluate the combat effectiveness of the US’s first hypersonic missile until early next year https://t.co/GKrTRVb6BX
Pilots Report Turbulence Nationwide Despite Smooth Flight Promises
Pilot “we have a smooth flight ahead today for you” Actual reports from pilots across US today: https://t.co/JSJaee4rf7
Voyager Expands Infrastructure to Meet Soaring Demand
Important new piece of infrastructure for Voyager in response to increasing demand for our technology. Also great to be alongside great partners like @anduriltech and @The_TrueAnomaly $VOYG
Lynk Architecture Cuts Costs by Splitting Functions
“we like the Lynk architecture. It’s a unique design which puts certain functions up in the satellite, certain functions on the ground and this will deliver an overall lower-cost business case,” via @malleven33 https://t.co/QPfqnMP3XF
Avio Posts Record 2025 Earnings, Fuels US Defense Expansion
Space-launch, defense propulsion manufacturer @Avio_Group reports record rev, profit, EBITDA for 2025 w/ Vega-C & Ariane 6 rocket successes . Launcher profit to fund buildup of US defense business. @esa @ASI_spazio @ArianeGroup @Arianesace.https://t.co/pdVgkR5CeO https://t.co/xHn1y6vHnp
SAC's Finest Hour: 60 B‑52s over Soviet Borders
SACs finest hour - Cuban Missile Crisis - 60(!) B-52s circling off the coast/borders of Soviet Union, notes Robert Hopkins. #avgeek https://t.co/AqRTUfjI3n