Industry News
News about the aerospace industry curated by AIAA staff
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Aviation Industry Coalition Calls for Measures to Prevent Use of Unapproved Plane Parts
10 October 2024
CNBC reports, “A report issued by an aviation industry coalition on Wednesday called for new steps to help prevent future unapproved parts from entering... -
As Space Station Ages, Air Leaks from Russian Section Cause Concern
10 October 2024
The Washington Post reports, “Russia’s space agency has identified four cracks and about 50 other “areas of concern” in a Russian section of the.... -
Aurora Unveils High-Speed VTOL X-Plane Concept Design
9 October 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Aurora Flight Sciences on Oct. 8 unveiled new details of a notional operational variant of the fan-in-wing concept it is proposing... -
NASA Selects Rocket Lab for Mars Sample Return Study
9 October 2024
Space News reports, “NASA has awarded a contract to Rocket Lab to study alternative concepts for Mars Sample Return (MSR), joining several other efforts to improve... -
Small, Autonomous Airlifters Becoming Top Priority for US Air Force
8 October 2024
Aviation Week reports, “A new type of military airlifter is rising to the top of the U.S. Air Force’s list of modernization priorities: small, autonomous... -
Europe’s Hera Asteroid Mission Lifts Off Ahead of Hurricane Milton
8 October 2024
Ars Technica reports, “Two years ago, a NASA spacecraft smashed into a small asteroid millions of miles from Earth to test a technique that could one day prove... -
Airbus Sets New Speed Target for Next Compound Rotorcraft Demo
7 October 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Airbus Helicopters has set a new speed target of 240 kt. (276.1 mph) for the next round of flight testing of its Racer compound high-speed rotorcraft. -
FAA Authorizes Oct 7 Flight for SpaceX Falcon 9 Vehicle
7 October 2024
Reuters reports, “SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket can return to flight for a mission planned for Monday to launch the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft from Florida... -
FAA Ends Review Launched After Spike in United Incidents
4 October 2024
Aerotime reports the FAA “has concluded a six-month review of United Airlines that the agency launched in March 2024, after several high-profile... -
ULA’s New Vulcan Centaur Rocket Successfully Launches in 2nd Test
4 October 2024
SPACE reports, “United Launch Alliance's (ULA) powerful new Vulcan Centaur rocket is two for two. Vulcan Centaur, the successor to ULA's workhorse Atlas V... -
Skydweller Aero Completes Testing on Drone Equipped with Solar Panels
3 October 2024
Gagadget.com reports, “Skydweller Aero has completed testing of the Skydweller drone equipped with solar panels. The test campaign was initiated as part of the Joint Concept for Technology Demonstration (JCTD) of the... -
NASA Turns Off Voyager 2 Instrument to Save Power
3 October 2024
AP News reports, “NASA has switched off another scientific instrument on its Voyager 2 spacecraft to save power. The space agency said Tuesday... -
Toyota to Invest $500M in Joby’s eVTOL Air Taxi
3 October 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “One of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers this week committed half a billion dollars to help develop a new mode of flight. Toyota on Wednesday announced it will funnel... -
eVTOL Developer Lilium Powers on its First In-production Jet
2 October 2024
Aerotime reports, “In a significant milestone the electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Lilium has successfully powered on... -
Defense Department Requests Industry Proposals for Advancements in Small-Satellite Propulsion
2 October 2024
Space News reports, “The Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit published a call for industry proposals on advanced spacecraft propulsion technology, specifically focusing on... -
NASA Makes Progress Reducing ISS Air Leak
1 October 2024
Space News reports, “NASA is playing down concerns raised in a recent report about a long-running air leak in the Russian segment of the International Space Station, saying.... -
NTSB Issues Warning on Possible Use of Suspect Rudder Control Parts by Foreign Operators on Boeing 737s
1 October 2024
Reuters reports, “The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has said more than 40 foreign operators of Boeing 737 airplanes may be using planes with rudder components that could pose safety risks... -
Space Station Cracking Presents “Highest” Risk and Consequence Problem, NASA Confirms
30 September 2024
Ars Technica reports, “US space officials do not like to talk about the perils of flying astronauts on the aging International Space Station, elements of which are now more than... -
Embraer Shares More Details About its New Autonomous Takeoff System
30 September 2024
Simple Flying reports, “During the Farnborough Airshow earlier this year, Embraer introduced a new takeoff system it calls E2TS... -
SpaceX Crew 9 Mission That Will Bring Back Starliner Astronauts Prepares for Launch
27 September 2024
USA Today reports, “The SpaceX Dragon that next year will ferry the Starliner astronauts back to Earth is preparing to finally depart for the International Space Station... -
Boeing Pauses 737 Production
27 September 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Boeing 737 production ground to a halt on Wednesday as the company continues to be riddled with costly strikes in the Pacific Northwest. -
Blue Origin Conducts Hot Fire Test on New Glenn’s Upper Stage
26 September 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Blue Origin on Sept. 23 conducted a 15-sec. hot fire of the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen-fueled upper stage for its first New Glenn... -
UK’s Civil Aviation Authority to Begin BVLOS Drone Demos by Year’s End
26 September 2024
Aviation Week reports, “The UK Civil Aviation Authority plans to begin beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone demonstrations by year’s end and establish routine operations... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 20 Starlink Satellites from California
25 September 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched its latest Falcon 9 rocket on a Starlink mission as Tropical Storm Helene pushed back the launch of the next mission... -
Innovators Invited to Compete to Build Best Autonomous Emergency Response Aircraft
25 September 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Calling all students, engineers, businesses, and other innovators. Time is running out to join a competition that will award $2 million in prizes... -
Space Force Selects Four Companies to Develop Concepts for ‘Resilient GPS’ Satellites
24 September 2024
Space News reports, “The U.S. Space Force selected four companies to develop concepts for smaller, more cost-effective GPS satellites based on commercial designs, aiming to... -
Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Makes 4th Successful Test Flight
24 September 2024
Simple Flying reports, “Boom Supersonic conducted a fourth and successful Boom XB-1test flight, this time reaching an altitude of 16,150 feet and a speed of Mach 0.617... -
NASA’s Plan for Deorbiting ISS Contingent Upon Russia’s Plans
23 September 2024
Ars Technica reports, “Assuming the ISS international partners will retire the laboratory as planned in 2030, the final deorbit maneuver could happen in early 2031. -
MQ-4C Triton Makes Five Hour Flight Within the Arctic Circle, Validates Navigation Capability
23 September 2024
The Aviationist reports, “Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) surveillance and intelligence UAV “successfully demonstrated” its “navigation system’s ability to operate at high latitudes... -
SpaceX Preps for Upcoming Test Flight by Firing Up Engines on 6th Starship
20 September 2024
SPACE reports, “SpaceX fired up the engines of its sixth Starship vehicle on Wednesday (Sept. 18) to gear up for a test flight that's probably... -
USAF’s First Autonomous Combat Jets Might Carry Extra Munitions for Crewed Fighters
20 September 2024
Flight Global reports, “The first batch of autonomous ‘Collaborative Combat Aircraft’ being developed for the US Air Force will primarily be tasked with carrying extra precision munitions aloft, with other combat functions coming... -
NASA Seeks Input on LEO Microgravity Strategy
19 September 2024
NASA published draft high-level goals and objectives outlining 42 key points in six main areas: science, exploration-enabling research and technology development... -
U.S. Air Force Shares Video of B-21 Raider Taking Off and Landing
19 September 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “The U.S. Air Force released footage of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber undergoing flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Europe’s Galileo Satellites from Cape Canaveral
18 September 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched the latest pair of Galileo spacecraft for the European Union’s navigation satellite... -
Honeywell Unveils Its SAMURAI AI-Enabled Counter-Drone Swarm System
18 September 2024
National Defense Magazine reports, “Honeywell has launched its Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept system, or SAMURAI, which is designed to counter swarm drones and protect critical assets in an increasingly contested airspace, the company announced... -
Lockheed Martin Unveils New, Long-Range Stealth Cruise Missile
17 September 2024
Interesting Engineering reports, “Lockheed Martin has unveiled its new extreme-range Joint-Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), the AGM-158 XR. -
Launch Companies Increasing Flight Rates of New Vehicles to Meet Demand
17 September 2024
Space News reports, “Companies that are fielding new launch vehicles are now facing the challenge of scaling up operations to meet the continued high demand... -
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Astronauts Splash Down Ending Historic Mission
16 September 2024
SPACE reports, “Polaris Dawn, the historic SpaceX astronaut mission — which conducted the first-ever private spacewalk, among other achievements —returned to Earth today (Sept. 15), splashing down... -
Air Force Addresses Major Flaw in its Drone Wingman Strategy
16 September 2024
Defense News reports, “Whatever the next chapter of U.S. air power will look like, there will be drones — and lots of them — accompanying manned fighters... -
SpaceX Sets New Launch Record at Vandenberg with Thursday’s Falcon 9 Launch
13 September 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched its latest batch of 21 Starlink satellites on a Thursday night Falcon 9 launch from California. The Falcon 9 rocket launch set a new record... -
Heart Aerospace Shows Off Full-Scale Demonstrator for First Time
13 September 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Swedish hybrid-electric aircraft manufacturer Heart Aerospace unveiled Wednesday a 30-seat demonstrator dubbed Heart Experimental 1... -
SpaceX Polaris Astronauts Become First Private Citizens to Complete Spacewalk
12 September 2024
The Washington Post reports, “Jared Isaacman performed the first spacewalk by a private citizen early Thursday, with a live broadcast that showed... -
Vertical Aerospace Completes VX4 Phase One Testing
12 September 2024
Reuters reports, “UK-based Vertical Aerospace has completed the first phase of piloted testing of a prototype of its air-taxi, VX4, it said... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Payload for AST SpaceMobile, Lands Booster
12 September 2024
SPACE reports, “AST SpaceMobile's first five commercial satellites have reached orbit. The huge spacecraft, called BlueBirds, lifted off today... -
FAA Says Agency Must Ensure Adequate Safety Measures Before 737 Max Production Can Expand
11 September 2024
Reuters reports, “The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday the agency must ensure the planemaker's safety processes are adequate... -
Polaris Dawn Crew Achieve Record High Orbit Above Earth
11 September 2024
The New York Times reports, “After launching early on Tuesday, the billionaire Jared Isaacman and his crew traveled to altitudes... -
Joby Aviation Submits Application for Air Taxi Certificate in UAE
10 September 2024
Aerotime reports, “Joby Aviation is moving forward with its plans to launch commercial eVTOL operations... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Polaris Dawn Mission from Florida
10 September 2024
The New York Times reports, “At 5:23 a.m. Eastern time, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Less than 15 minutes later, the crew of four astronauts... -
Army Revamping Air Crew Training With Focus on Aircraft and Simulators
9 September 2024
Defense News reports, “After several fatal Army aircraft crashes and the arrival of a more complicated... -
Boeing Starliner’s Future Is Unclear After Returning Without Astronauts
9 September 2024
The New York Times reports that Boeing’s Starliner “has finally come home, but the two NASA... -
Self-Flying Cessna Begins Testing for FAA Validation
6 September 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Self-flying aircraft may be closer to takeoff than you think. On Thursday, Boston-based Merlin Labs announced ... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches On National Security Mission for NRO
6 September 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket with an undisclosed number of satellites on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)... -
EasyJet and JetZero to Partner on Development of BWB Aircraft
5 September 2024
Airways reports, “British low-cost airline EasyJet (U2) has announced a partnership with JetZero, a California-based company, to develop... -
Uncrewed Boeing Starliner Set to Depart Space Station Friday Night
5 September 2024
The New York Times reports, “Leaving behind the two NASA astronauts it took to the International Space Station three months ago, Boeing’s troubled Starliner... -
U.S. Air Force to Boost its MH-139 Fleet by Adding Over a Dozen Helos
4 September 2024
Breaking Defense reports, “After moving to halve the fleet in fiscal year 2025, a new Pentagon review says the Air Force now plans to add over a dozen MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters back into the aircraft’s program... -
ESA Targeting Wednesday Night for Final Launch of its First-Generation Vega Rocket
4 September 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “Update 7:05 a.m. EDT: Arianespace announced that the mission is scrubbed for a Tuesday night launch attempt... -
Aurora Flight Sciences’ sUAS Completes Long-Endurance Flight Test
3 September 2024
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, recently completed a successful seven-hour flight test of its fuel-cell-powered small... -
Wilmore Reports Strange Noise Coming from Starliner Spacecraft
3 September 2024
Ars Technica reports, “On Saturday NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore noticed some strange noises emanating from a speaker inside the Starliner spacecraft. -
Boeing's 777-9 Certification Program Paused to Address Engine Component Cracks
30 August 2024
Aviation Week reports, "Cracks in engine attachment components that have stalled Boeing’s 777-9 certification program were found in a fourth test aircraft that has not flown in nearly three years... -
NASA Targeting Sept. 6 for Bringing Uncrewed Starliner Back to Earth
30 August 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Following its decision to continue the Boeing CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) without its crew for safety reasons, NASA... -
Piper M700 Fury Attains Type Certification in Canada
29 August 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Piper Aircraft's M700 Fury has achieved type certification from Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA)—a validation... -
FAA Temporarily Suspends Falcon 9 Launches to Investigate Booster Landing Mishap
29 August 2024
Space News reports, “Falcon 9 launches are temporarily on hold as the Federal Aviation Administration looks into any public safety implications of the failed landing of a booster early Aug. 28. -
Boeing Boosts Its Forecast for China’s Commercial Jet Fleet Demand
28 August 2024
MarketWatch reports, “China will more than double its commercial airplane fleet by 2043, says Boeing, thanks to the expansion of the aviation industry to meet... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Explodes on Droneship, Ending String of 267 Successful Landings
28 August 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “Update 5:20 a.m. EDT: SpaceX is scrubbing the Starlink 9-5 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base to allow more time to review the data from the B1062 landing... -
Boom Eyes Third XB-1 Test Flight After Successful Second Sortie
27 August 2024
Flight Global reports, “Boom Supersonic’s successful second test flight of its XB-1 demonstrator on 26 August positions the company to accelerate the pace... -
Helium Leak Causes Delay of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Astronaut Launch Until August 28
27 August 2024
SPACE reports that SpaceX has pushed the launch of the historic Polaris Dawn astronaut mission back 24 hours, to Wednesday morning (Aug. 28), due to... -
Electric-plane Future Poised to Take Off
26 August 2024
CBS News reports that advances being made in aviation technology allow a plane to be powered by batteries, promising a more environmentally-friendly, quieter and cheaper... -
NASA Confirms Boeing Starliner Astronauts Will Return Home on SpaceX Dragon in 2025
26 August 2024
SPACE reports that NASA decided Saturday (Aug. 24) to return its two Boeing Starliner astronauts to Earth in February 2025. Their Starliner capsule will come back empty... -
Army Selects SNC for HADES Spy Plane Contract
23 August 2024
Breaking Defense reports, “Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has won a high-flying Army contract to convert a business jet into a deep-sensing spy plane, beating out an industry team up featuring... -
Decision on Boeing Starliner Crew’s Path Home Expected Saturday Per NASA
23 August 2024
Reuters reports, “NASA said on Thursday it expects to announce on Saturday its decision on whether the two astronauts who rode Boeing's glitchy Starliner spacecraft... -
NASA to Continue to Study Orion Heat Shield Issue Before Stacking Artemis II Rocket
22 August 2024
Ars Technica reports, “NASA would like to start stacking the Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis II mission—the first human flight... -
Electra Aims to Revolutionize Aviation with Hybrid Electric Aircraft
22 August 2024
Northern Virginia Magazine reports, “How does a quick flight from Manassas to downtown Manhattan sound? It’s in the works. Electra.aero, a next-gen technology aircraft company... -
ESA’s JUICE Jupiter Probe Glides Past Moon in Historic Flyby
21 August 2024
Scientific American reports, “Europe's JUICE Jupiter probe swung by the moon for a 'gravity assist' on Monday (Aug. 19), and it snapped some photos to commemorate the historic encounter. -
B-2 Stealth Bombers Complete Transpacific Flight to Australia
21 August 2024
FlightGlobal reports, “Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers from the US Air Force completed a transpacific flight from their base in the USA, making a night landing... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral
20 August 2024
Spaceflight Now reports SpaceX has launched 22 more Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force...