Industry News
In This Section
News about the aerospace industry curated by AIAA staff
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NASA Postpones Spacewalk Due to Coolant Leak from Russian ISS Module
12 October 2023
SPACE eports NASA officials have postponed a planned spacewalk from the ISS “as a precautionary measure after a leak of ammonia coolant... -
GA-ASI Completes Test of Small UAS Aerial Recovery System
11 October 2023
The Drive reports GA-ASI has “begun flight demonstrations of a system it’s developed that will allow small drones to be launched and recovered in mid-air... -
NASA Using SpaceX Falcon Heavy to Launch Psyche Mission
11 October 2023
The Orlando (FL) Sentinel reports NASA is using SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket “for the first time, aiming to send a probe... -
Joby Aviation Founder Says Electric Air Taxis Will be in Service by 2025
10 October 2023
The AP reports that in an interview, Joby Aviation founder JoeBen Bevirt said that its electric air taxis will be in service within two years. -
Virgin Galactic Completes Fourth Commercial Suborbital Flight
10 October 2023
SPACE reports that Virgin Galactic “is preparing for its fourth commercial spaceflight mission.” Galactic 04 will “carry a three-person crew accompanied by the company’s head astronaut instructor, as well as... -
Wisk Aero Makes Autonomous eVTOL Flight from California Airport
9 October 2023
Aviation Week reports Wisk Aero has started "conducting test flights of its autonomous air taxi out of Long Beach Airport, California, which the Boeing subsidiary... -
SpaceX Launches 21 More Starlink Satellites from California
9 October 2023
SPACE reports that early Monday morning, SpaceX launched 21 more of its Starlink broadband satellites "atop a Falcon 9 rocket from California's Vandenberg Space Force... -
US Airlines Moving to Larger Aircraft to Combat Operating Challenges
6 October 2023
Reuters reports that United Airlines 110 aircraft order from The Boeing Company and Airbus this week is part of a trend of US carriers moving to larger aircraft... -
Elon Musk Believes SpaceX Can Land On Mars Three to Four Years from Now
6 October 2023
The New York Times reports that SpaceX founder Elon Musk “said the company could land a spacecraft on Mars three to four years from now.” In a Q&A session... -
Collins Aerospace Opens ‘The Grid’ in Illinois
5 October 2023
FlightGlobal reports that Collins Aerospace “has now opened ‘The Grid,’ a long-planned Illinois facility that houses its development of electric and hybrid-electric propulsion technologies... -
SpaceX Launches 22 More Starlink Satellites
5 October 2023
SPACE reports that SpaceX “launched 22 more of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit early this morning (Oct. 5), on the company’s 70th orbital mission... -
Reliable Robotics Completes Study for USAF Examining Autonomous Flight
4 October 2023
Aviation Week reports that Reliable Robotics “has completed a study for the U.S. Air Force examining retrofitting the service’s large multi-engine jets... -
Crew Readies for Virgin Galactic’s Fourth Commercial Spaceflight
4 October 2023
SPACE reports that Virgin Galactic “is preparing for its fourth commercial spaceflight mission.” Galactic 04 will “carry a three-person crew accompanied by the company’s head astronaut instructor, as well as... -
Boeing Plans to Set Record 737 Production Goal for July 2025
3 October 2023
Reuters reports that two sources with knowledge of the matter say Boeing “plans to push production of its bestselling 737 narrowbody jet to a record of at least 57 per month... -
NASA Seeks Comment from US Companies on Commercial Space Station
3 October 2023
Aviation Week reports that NASA is “seeking comment from US companies on requirements for the end-to-end development of commercial low Earth orbit destinations available to NASA... -
USAF Announces Desired Engine Thrust Range for Future CCAs
2 October 2023
Aviation Week reported that the US Air Force “has released a desired thrust range for a future family of uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) that calls for more engine power... -
SpaceX Launches 69th Orbital Flight of 2023 from Florida
2 October 2023
Orlando (FL) Sentinel reported that a SpaceX Falcon 9 “took off from the 39th time from Cape Canaveral this year, marking the 49th SpaceX flight from the Space Coast and 69th orbital mission... -
Overair Working to Complete First Air Taxi Prototype
29 September 2023
An article in Aerospace America describes Overair’s facility and examines the eVTOL aircraft the company is producing and the differences from... -
Blue Origin’s New Shepard Rocket May Fly Soon Following Closing of FAA Investigation
29 September 2023
The Orlando (FL) Sentinel reports that on Wednesday, the FAA “said it had closed its investigation into the flight of an uncrewed Blue Origin New Shepard rocket that ended with its booster destroyed... -
Rolls-Royce Runs Pearl 700 Engine on Hydrogen
28 September 2023
Aviation International News reports that Rolls-Royce has run a Pearl 700 business aircraft engine on 100% hydrogen fuel as part of a longer-term development... -
Three Astronauts Return to Earth, One After Setting US Space Record
28 September 2023
The AP reports that a NASA astronaut and “two Russian cosmonauts returned to Earth on Wednesday after being stuck in space... -
USAF Begins Testing of Joby Electric Air Taxi
27 September 2023
Aerospace America reports that on Monday, the US Air Force (USAF) held a ceremony to formally introduce personnel “to the first electric air taxi to be stationed at an American military base... -
Artemis II Launch Coming Together
27 September 2023
The Orlando (FL) Sentinel reports that the reigning title holder “for world’s most powerful rocket saw action on both its center core and its two solid rocket boosters... -
USAF Receives First Electric Passenger Aircraft Capable of Taking Off, Landing Vertically
26 September 2023
The New York Times reports the US Air Force announced Monday that it had “received its first electric passenger aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, a milestone... -
NASA Releases Industry Solicitation for ISS Deorbit Vehicle
26 September 2023
FlightGlobal reports that on September 20, NASA “released an industry solicitation for a platform the agency is calling the US Deorbit Vehicle (USDV) – which will be used to safely return the aging ISS to Earth.” -
Only 55% of US F-35s Ready to Fly
25 September 2023
FlightGlobal reports that an analysis from auditors at the GAO found only 55% of the US military’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets were able to carry out assigned missions... -
FAA Proposes New Rule to Reduce Space Debris
25 September 2023
UPI reports that SpaceX “launched 22 satellites for its Starlink ‘constellation’ into low-Earth orbit late Saturday night as the Federal Aviation Administration proposed a new rule to reduce space debris from commercial flights.” -
Norwegian Air Force F-35A JSF Demonstrates Ability to Takeoff, Land from Highway
22 September 2023
The Drive reports that “Norway has become the first country to demonstrate the ability of the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A Joint Strike Fighter... -
NASA’s Artemis II Astronauts Head to Launch Pad for First Time
22 September 2023
Florida Today reports that on Wednesday, the four person crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission “had a first chance to practice what their launch day will feel like.” -
Austria to Replace Retiring C-130 Fleet with Embraer’s C-390 Aircraft
21 September 2023
Reuters reports Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner said on Wednesday that the country “plans to replace its retiring C-130 Hercules... -
NASA Developing Deep Space Optical Communications
21 September 2023
Detailing NASA’s development of deep space optical communications, Aviation Week reports, “Preparing for future human deep space exploration is not just about developing large rockets, new generations of spacesuits... -
FAA Approves BVLOS Flights for Zipline Cargo Drones
20 September 2023
Aviation Week reports that the FAA “has authorized Zipline International to perform beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights of its cargo drones.” -
NASA’s Rubio Discusses Record Time in Space
20 September 2023
Aviation Week reports that as his U.S. record-setting mission “aboard the International Space Station (ISS) draws to... -
Joby Aviation to Begin Manufacturing Air Taxis in Ohio
19 September 2023
The AP reports that the same Ohio river valley “where the Wright brothers pioneered human flight will soon be manufacturing... -
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Returning to Earth to Deliver Bennu Asteroid Sample
19 September 2023
CNET News reports that a pickpocketed piece “of a big asteroid named Bennu is on its way back to Earth.” NASA’s OSIRIS-REx is... -
FAA Reveals Wing’s Drone Delivery Network Plans
18 September 2023
Aviation Week reported that plans to “expand Wing’s drone delivery network throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area have been revealed... -
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Flies Through Coronal Mass Ejection
18 September 2023
Forbes reports that NASA’s Parker Solar Probe “has become the first spacecraft ever to fly through... -
FAA Reinstates Mexico’s Aviation Safety Rating to Highest Level
15 September 2023
The AP reports that on Thursday, the FAA “returned Mexico’s aviation safety rating to the highest level two years after downgrading it.” The change will “allow Mexican airlines to add new routes... -
FAA May Grant Launch License for Starship by October
15 September 2023
CNN reports that the FAA says it is “optimistic” that it “could allow SpaceX to launch its mega rocket, Starship, by the end of October.” Starship has been “grounded since its inaugural test flight... -
Wizz Air May Reduce Capacity as Much as 10% from Pratt & Whitney Engine Issues
14 September 2023
Aviation Week reports that Wizz Air “may need to reduce its capacity by 10% due to Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engine issues... -
Axiom Space Names Ax-3 Crew for Mission to ISS
14 September 2023
SPACE reports that Axiom Space “named the full crew of four people who will fly to the International Space Station on the Ax-3 mission no sooner than January 2024... -
L3Harris, BAE Systems Deliver First EC-37B Compass Call to US Air Force
13 September 2023
FlightGlobal reports L3Harris and BAE Systems have delivered the first EC-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft to the US Air Force. -
Returning Crew-6 Astronauts Express Satisfaction with Scientific Opportunities Aboard ISS
13 September 2023
Aviation Week reports that just over a week “after returning to Earth after a 186-day mission to the International Space Station, three of NASA’s four Crew-6... -
Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 Engine for Gulfstream Officially Receives FAA Approval
12 September 2023
Aviation Week reports that Rolls-Royce has “earned FAA type certification for its Pearl 700 engine designed for Gulfstream’s new G700 and G800 ultra-long-range business jets.” -
NASA Leadership to Call Frank Rubio after Record-Breaking Mission
12 September 2023
The AP reports that on Wednesday, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy “will speak with agency astronaut Frank Rubio... -
Airbus Working to Improve A220 Autothrottle Design
11 September 2023
Aviation Week reported that Airbus is “working on improving the A220’s autothrottle design, after several reports... -
ULA Launches Atlas V Rocket Carrying SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 Mission
11 September 2023
The Orlando Sentinel reports that United Launch Alliance launched an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station... -
GE Aerospace Chosen to Provide Digital Backbone for Bell V-280 Valor
8 September 2023
FlightGlobal reports that “GE Aerospace will provide digital backbone, voice and data recorder, and health awareness system for Bell V-280 Valor, which the US Army selected... -
Terran Orbital Announces Satellite Production Increase
8 September 2023
Space News reports that on Thursday, satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital “plans to accelerate production at its factory in California, promising deliveries... -
USMC to Conduct Safety Review Following MV-22 Crash
7 September 2023
Aviation Week reports that the new acting head of the US Marine Corps “will elevate the head of safety role to a general officer by next summer... -
Japanese Successfully Launches Lunar Landing, Space Telescope Mission
7 September 2023
The Washington Post reports Japan launched a “lunar mission on Thursday, overcoming multiple failures and delays to become the fifth country... -
Aircraft Manufacturers Prepare for Uncrewed Future
6 September 2023
Politico reports that every commercial flight “has two pilots at the controls – but some planemakers are now designing cockpits that need fewer pilots, or someday even none.” -
China’s Ceres-1 Rocket Achieves Orbit with First Launch from Mobile Sea Platform
6 September 2023
Space News reports that China’s Galactic Energy “conducted its first sea launch early Wednesday, also marking a ninth successive successful launch... -
USAF Asks Aviation Industry to Detail Plans for KC-135 Replacement
5 September 2023
Aviation Week reported that the US Air Force “wants to kick off a program to replace its aging Boeing KC-135s this month with a request for information (RFI), followed by industry days... -
SpaceX Launches 13 Satellites for US Space Development Agency
5 September 2023
Space News reported SpaceX on Saturday launched a Falcon 9 rocket “at 7:25 a.m. Pacific from Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, carrying 13 U.S. military satellites.” -
EASA Submits EVTOL Operating Regulations
1 September 2023
Aviation Week reports that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) “proposed rules for the operation of vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL)... -
Firefly Ready to Test Launch USSF On-Demand Service
1 September 2023
Aviation Week reports that sometime in the next six months, Boeing’s Millennium Space Systems and startup Firefly Aerospace “will receive... -
GAMA Report Says General Aviation Recovery Sluggish but Positive
31 August 2023
AirInsight reports that GAMA “released its shipments and billings report for the second quarter of 2023, and the results are mildly positive... -
India’s Moon Landing Sparks New Space Race
31 August 2023
The Washington Post reports that India’s successful moon landing reflecting Russia’s failed moon landing has seemed to be the signal flare that has started... -
USAF to Audition $11 Billion B-52 Makeover for Airborne Electronic Attack Platform
30 August 2023
Aviation Week reports that as “an $11 billion makeover of Boeing B-52 engines, sensors and electronics continues, the Stratofortress has won a chance to audition... -
Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Prepare for Hurricane Idalia
30 August 2023
Florida Today reports that as Hurricane Idalia “churns off the southwest coast of Florida, the impacts on Brevard’s local space economy... -
Boeing, Airbus Widebody Debuts Set for 2025
29 August 2023
Aviation Week reports that the slow-moving “world of new widebody passenger aircraft should see a welcome uptick in activity in 2025, thanks to... -
Chandrayaan-3 Takes Lunar South Pole Temperature
29 August 2023
SPACE reports India’s Chandrayaan-3 has been hard at work since its landmark landing on the lunar South Pole last week. -
IATA Data Shows Strong Air Traffic Recovery to Prepandemic Levels
28 August 2023
Aviation Week reported that while IATA data released for June “showed a 31% increase in year-on-year air traffic, taking the global total to 94.2% of pre-pandemic levels”... -
SpaceX Launches Starlink Satellites
28 August 2023
UPI reports that SpaceX “launched a Falcon 9 rocket with a payload of 22 Starlink satellites into space early Friday from Florida’s... -
UAS Service Industry Call for FAA Regulatory Framework
25 August 2023
Aviation Today reports that uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) service suppliers are requesting for the FAA “to implement... -
SpaceX, NASA Mission Delayed
25 August 2023
CNN reports that a SpaceX and NASA mission that “was set to launch four astronauts – representing four nations and space agencies across the globe... -
Bristow Conducts First Flight Test in Beta’s Alia
24 August 2023
Aviation Week reports that global helicopter operator Bristow “has conducted its first test flight in Beta Technologies’ Alia in support of... -
How Space Travel Affects Astronauts’ Physiology
24 August 2023
UPI reports that when astronauts “travel to space, the experience depletes their red blood cells and bone, according to a new study.” -
FAA to Hold Safety Meetings at US Airports Following Multiple Close Calls
23 August 2023
Fox Business reports that the FAA “is expected to hold runway safety meetings at 90 major airports through September... -
Crew-7 Prepares for Launch
23 August 2023
Aviation Week reports that preparations “continue for the planned Aug. 25 launch of NASA’s Crew-7’s three astronauts and a cosmonaut to the International Space Station... -
Reliable Robotics Flight Tests Cessna Caravan to Demonstrate Technology
22 August 2023
FlightGlobal reports that Reliable Robotics has “completed flight tests intended to demonstrate... -
After Russian Failure, India Will Attempt Landing at Lunar South Pole
22 August 2023
The Wall Street Journal reports that attempts this week by Russia and India to place landers on the moon are just the most high-profile cases of an array... -
FAA Orders Inspections of 20 Pratt & Whitney GTF Engines
21 August 2023
AP reported that “U.S. regulators are requiring immediate inspections and possible repairs to Pratt & Whitney engines on some Airbus passenger jets... -
NASA Spacecraft Continues its 17-Year Journey
21 August 2023
The Washington Post reports that for nearly 17 years, NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory-A spacecraft “drifted through space on a lonely mission.” It traveled “around the sun...