FAA Administrator Outlines Path to 777X Certification in 2027
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told industry officials that the Boeing 737 MAX is expected to receive final certification by the end of 2026, and that the larger 777X wide‑body will follow with a target certification date in 2027. The timeline reflects the FAA’s intensified safety review process after recent high‑profile incidents. Bedford’s comments signal a clearer path forward for Boeing’s flagship programs, which have faced production slowdowns and regulatory scrutiny. The announcement was reported by Aviation Week and posted on the AIAA website.
New Glenn Rocket Destroyed in Fiery Prelaunch Test at Cape Canaveral
Blue Origin’s heavy‑lift New Glenn rocket suffered a catastrophic explosion during a pre‑launch static‑fire test at Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 36 on Thursday night. The test, intended to validate the vehicle’s BE‑4 engines and fuel system, ended in a fire that destroyed...
How to Accelerate the Space Industrial Base – And What Adversaries Can Teach Us
A panel of space‑industry leaders argued the United States must learn from China’s rapid build‑out of launch sites, satellite factories, and ground infrastructure to preserve its strategic edge. Speakers highlighted a mismatch between private investors’ short‑term return expectations and the...
Students Shared Research and Explored Aerospace Innovation at AIAA Region IV Student Conference
Rice University’s Mechanical Engineering department hosted the 2026 AIAA Region IV Student Conference March 27‑29, drawing more than 200 high‑school, undergraduate and graduate participants from Texas and neighboring states. The two‑day event featured 58 paper and poster presentations across aeronautics, astronautics and...
Electra Sees Demand for 16,000 Hybrid-Electric Aircraft in USA
Electra, a hybrid‑electric aircraft developer, projects that the United States could support up to 16,000 regional electric aircraft over the next decade. The fleet would carry millions of passengers, offering a faster alternative to congested highways and traditional hub‑and‑spoke airline...
Russian Cosmonauts Install Solar Telescope During ISS Spacewalk
On May 27, Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev performed a 6‑hour, 5‑minute extravehicular activity outside the International Space Station. The EVA focused on installing a new solar telescope and retrieving several science experiments. The spacewalk ran from 10:18 a.m....
Experts Say Space Nuclear Power’s Biggest Obstacles Are Logistical, Not Technical
A workshop at AIAA’s ASCEND event highlighted that the primary barriers to space nuclear power are logistical, not technical. Experts noted that despite $20 billion spent over six decades, mission planning, policy continuity, and regulatory frameworks have repeatedly stalled progress. The...
EPATS Ignites the Electric Era of Flight at AIAA AVIATION Forum 2026
At the AIAA Aviation Forum in San Diego, the Electric Propulsion and Advanced Technologies Symposium (EPATS) gathered aerospace engineers, regulators, and industry leaders to chart the path from concept to certification for electric aircraft. Sessions tackled battery‑to‑airframe integration, megawatt‑class thermal...
Hermeus Reaches Supersonic Speed in Historic Quarterhorse Test Flight
Hermeus successfully flew its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 demonstrator above Mach 1, achieving the first supersonic flight for a privately funded, unmanned aircraft in the United States. The test, conducted in May 2026, demonstrated sustained cruise at supersonic speeds, validating the company’s hypersonic...
NASA Unveils New Lunar Base Developments as Artemis Efforts Expand
NASA announced contract awards for the first hardware elements of a lunar base, including two rovers that will give astronauts mobility on the Moon. Administrator Jared Isaacman highlighted that the agency will not slow down its Artemis‑driven return to the...
From Student Competitions to Corporate Membership: How AIAA Fueled One Engineer’s Journey
Rut Lineswala’s journey from a Rutgers freshman to co‑founder of quantum‑enhanced simulation startup BQP was shaped by continuous AIAA involvement. Starting with the student Design/Build/Fly competition, he leveraged AIAA‑facilitated internships and the 2019 SciTech Forum to refine his technical focus....
Congressional Leaders Laud NASA Moon Plans, But Fight Intensifies over Science Funding
Congressional leaders overseeing NASA praised Artemis II’s 10‑day lunar flyby and the public‑private model that enabled it, while warning that the administration’s FY 2027 budget request slashes NASA’s total funding to $18.8 billion—a 25% drop from the current $24.4 billion. The proposed cuts focus...
SpaceX’s Starship V3 Reaches Key Milestones Despite Booster Loss
SpaceX successfully flew the latest Starship‑Super Heavy configuration, dubbed Version 3, on May 22, completing a full suborbital trajectory and hitting all pre‑flight objectives. The vehicle’s first‑stage booster detached prematurely and was lost, but the Starship upper stage continued on schedule, executing...
SpaceX Launches Improved Starship Rocket in Latest Development Milestone
SpaceX successfully conducted a test flight of the upgraded Starship V3 from its Boca Chica launch site on Friday. The vehicle featured a reinforced heat shield, upgraded Raptor engines, and a revised aerodynamic layout. The flight lasted roughly four minutes...
Rocket Lab Completes Ninth Launch Mission for Synspective
Rocket Lab successfully completed its ninth dedicated launch for Japan’s Earth‑observation firm Synspective, placing a new StriX synthetic‑aperture radar satellite into low‑Earth orbit. The mission, executed from the company’s New Zealand launch site, highlights the durability of the Rocket Lab‑Synspective partnership,...