Industry News
In This Section
News about the aerospace industry curated by AIAA staff
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SpaceX’s Starship Rocket Receives FAA Go-Ahead for Launch
5 June 2024
Reuters reports the FAA “on Tuesday said it issued a license for SpaceX's fourth flight of its Starship rocket system, another test mission along the company's path to building a reusable satellite launcher and moon lander. -
Joby Aviation Attains Autonomous Flight Developer Xwing
5 June 2024
Flying Magazaine reports, “Joby on Tuesday announced it acquired the autonomy division of Xwing, the developer of autonomous gate-to-gate flight software Superpilot, as it looks ahead... -
China’s Chang’e-6 Collects Moon Samples and Launches Them into Lunar Orbit
4 June 2024
Space News reports, “Material from the far side of the moon has begun its journey for Earth after Chinese spacecraft collected... -
Opinion: US Army Would Benefit from Drone Operator Branch
4 June 2024
Breaking Defense reports, “In this op-ed, John Ferrari explains why, despite the Army’s reservations, a new drone corps could be good for innovation.” -
Boeing Starliner Launch Rescheduled for June 5
3 June 2024
Space News reports, “NASA and Boeing have reset the launch of the company’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for June 5 after United Launch Alliance fixed a computer problem... -
Global Airlines Upgrade 2024 Profit Outlook as Travel Skyrockets
3 June 2024
Retuers reports, “Global airlines on Monday raised their profit forecast for 2024 and projected industry wide revenues just shy of $1 trillion... -
Space Debris from SpaceX Dragon Capsule Comes Down in North Carolina Mountains
31 May 2024
SPACE reports that a large piece of debris was found on a mountainside in North Carolina last week, suspected to be left over from the reentry of SpaceX's... -
USAF Working with Merlin Labs to Explore Autonomous Options for KC-135
31 May 2024
Defense Daily reports, “Boston-based Merlin Labs, Inc. said on May 30 that it is using data from flights of a KC-135 at MacDill AFB, Fla., ‘to better understand crew... -
Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Cleared for June 1 Launch
30 May 2024
SPACE reports, “The first-ever astronaut launch of Boeing's Starliner capsule, known as Crew Flight Test, is ‘go’ for its planned June 1 launch, NASA announced... -
Sikorsky Performing Flight Trials for VTOL Tail-Sitter UAS
30 May 2024
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is carrying out flight tests to mature the control laws and aerodynamics of a novel vertical takeoff and landing... -
SpaceX Launches ESA’s EarthCARE Mission on Falcon 9
29 May 2024
Space News reports, “A Falcon 9 successfully launched an Earth science mission for Europe and Japan May 28... -
SNC to Develop Air Force’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Replacement Using Digital Twin
29 May 2024
Breaking Defense reports, “Sierra Nevada Corporation’s behemoth task of converting Boeing 747 jumbo jets into militarized aircraft that can survive nuclear war will be no easy feat... -
Transitioning AAM Into Reality at AIAA AVIATION Forum
28 May 2024
The 2024 AIAA AVIATION Forum will be held 29 July–2 August in Las Vegas, and this year’s event aims to bridge the gap between visionary concepts and tangible technological reality. -
Helium Leak Presents No Safety Threat to Boeing’s Starliner Capsule According to NASA
28 May 2024
CBS News reports that engineers are confident the leak will not worsen in flight, and even if it does, the Starliner can safely launch June 1. -
KC-46 Deliveries Suspended Due to Boom Issue
28 May 2024
Aviation Week reports, “The U.S. Air Force has not taken delivery of KC-46 tankers from Boeing in more than two months as a new... -
SpaceX Launches 23 Starlink Satellites Marking 5th Anniversary of First Dedicated Starlink Flight
24 May 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX completed its third Falcon 9 launch in less than 48 hours with a mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. As with its launch... -
Air Force Says B-21 Flight Testing and Production ‘Continues to Make Progress’
24 May 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “The B-21 Raider ‘continues to make progress’ in flight testing and production, the U.S. Air Force said Wednesday. The stealth strike bomber... -
June 1 Set as New Target Date for Starliner’s Crew Flight Test
23 May 2024
SPACE reports, “Starliner and its rocket ride, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V, rolled off the pad at Florida's Cape Canaveral... -
Joby Aviation Eyes Saudi Arabia for Electric Air Taxi Network
23 May 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi manufacturer Joby Aviation is setting its sights on Saudi Arabia... -
Ariane 6 Inaugural Flight Attempt Scheduled for July 2024
22 May 2024
SpaceWatch.Global reports, “The Ariane 6 Launcher Task Force has announced that Ariane 6’s first launch attempt... -
SkyCourier’s Passenger-Cargo Combi Variant Approved by FAA
22 May 2024
Flight Global reports, “The Federal Aviation Administration has certificated a variant of Textron Aviation’s SkyCourier turboprop that can carry a mix... -
Aurora Unveils Updated High-Speed VTOL X-Plane Concept for DARPA
21 May 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Aurora Flight Sciences has unveiled a refined concept for a fan-in-wing high-speed vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft as it receives funding to proceed to a preliminary... -
SpaceX Starship Fueled Up Ahead of 4th Test Flight
21 May 2024
SPACE reports, “SpaceX just fueled up its giant Starship rocket, checking another box ahead of the vehicle's fourth test flight. The company performed a 'wet dress rehearsal' with Starship... -
Hermeus Begins Testing of Precooler Technology on Pratt & Whitney F100
20 May 2024
Aviation International News reports, “Hermeus continues its march toward hypersonic development with the testing of its precooler technology... -
Starliner Crew Flight Test Delayed Further Due to Ongoing Helium Leak Review
20 May 2024
Spaceflight Now reports that the shift in launch date is to allow more time to build in redundancy to account for the helium leak. The new target launch date... -
Biden Signs Comprehensive Aviation Safety Bill into Law
17 May 2024
Reuters reports, “President Joe Biden signed on Thursday sweeping aviation legislation that will boost U.S. air traffic controller staffing, increase funding to avert runway close-call incidents... -
Pentagon Planning Commercial ‘Space Reserve” to Support Military Satellites
17 May 2024
SPACE reports, “The U.S. Department of Defense is developing a plan to use the ever-growing American commercial space industry for national security purposes. -
Heart Aerospace Unveils Redesigned Hybrid Propulsion System
16 May 2024
Aviation Week Network reports, “Heart Aerospace has announced a redesigned hybrid propulsion system built around off-the-shelf turboprops and electric motors, as well as a series of related design changes... -
Opinion: After the ISS, America Must Continue to Lead in LEO, Cislunar to Maintain Supremacy
16 May 2024
Space News reports, "As the International Space Station (ISS) nears the end of its service life and the United States -
Textron eAviation’s Nexus eVTOL Aircraft Could Take Flight in 2025
15 May 2024
Aviation International News reports, “The Nexus eVTOL aircraft is coming together at Textron eAviation’s Wichita headquarters as the company prepares to begin flight testing its hybrid-electric Nuuva V300 cargo... -
Blue Origin to Restart Tourist Flights Following Almost 2-Year Pause
15 May 2024
Reuters reports, “Blue Origin will resume flights to space on Sunday, ending a near two-year pause of crewed operations following a 2022 mission failure. The NS-25 mission... -
Founder of Urban-Air Port Highlights Benefits of ‘Vertical Airfield’
14 May 2024
Aviation Week reports, “For the vision of urban air mobility to be realized, vertiports will have to maximize efficiency and passenger throughput while keeping costs as low as possible for vehicle operators... -
Sierra Space Prepares Dream Chaser for Pre-launch Trek to KSC
14 May 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “Sierra Space is getting one step closer to finally seeing its Dream Chaser spaceplane reach the launch pad. The spacecraft completed... -
Eve Air Offers Preview on Progress in Building its eVTOL Prototype
13 May 2024
Aviation International News reports, “Eve Air Mobility this week released still images and video giving glimpses... -
SpaceX Has Nearly 6,000 Starlink Satellites on Orbit Following Sunday’s Falcon 9 Launch
13 May 2024
Spaceflght Now reports that the milestone comes as a result of the 34th dedicated Starlink launch of the year for SpaceX. “Liftoff of the Starlink 6-58 mission... -
Opinion: Finding and Retaining Talent in the Aerospace Industry
10 May 2024
Aviation Week writes, “Are you searching for new entry-level talent and thinking, 'Where did everyone go?' The talent is there... -
Archer Introduces ‘Automotive Style’ Battery Pack to Air Taxi Production Line
10 May 2024
Flying reports, “Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Archer Aviation is ready to produce thousands of lithium-ion battery packs for its flagship Midnight... -
Finish Line for Dream Chaser Now in Sight
10 May 2024
Ars Techica reports, “There is still some work to do to prepare Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane for its first mission, but the company says the winged resupply craft for the ISS will soon ship to its launch site... -
Virgin Galactic to Fly VMS Eve More Frequently with Next-Gen Spaceplanes
9 May 2024
Space News reports, “Virgin Galactic says it will fly its existing “mothership” aircraft more frequently than previously planned with its upcoming Delta-class suborbital spaceplanes, allowing the company to defer development of a new plane... -
Starliner Removed from Launch Pad to Replace Faulty Rocket Valve
9 May 2024
SPACE reports, “Starliner and its rocket ride, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V, rolled off the pad at Florida's Cape Canaveral... -
Pyka, Sierra Nevada Team Up to Offer Large Cargo Drone to US DOD
8 May 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “The companies behind an autonomous, all-electric, school bus-sized drone designed for contested military operations... -
US Space Force Turns to Commercial Satellites to Meet Demand for Global Insights
8 May 2024
Space News reports, “A U.S. Space Force online marketplace that taps into commercial satellite data has executed around $8 million worth of contracts over the past... -
US Marine Corps’ New Aviation Modernization Plan Taking Shape
7 May 2024
Aviation Week reports, “A new wave of investment in U.S. Marine Corps aviation has taken shape behind closed doors during the past 18 months, as the development of several new rotary-wing... -
Crewed Starliner Launch Scrubbed Due to Valve Issue
7 May 2024
Space News reports, “Controllers scrubbed the first attempt to launch Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner on a crewed test flight May 6 because of a valve problem with the rocket... -
Leonardo, Textron Pitch M-346 as Best Option for Navy’s Next Jet Trainer
6 May 2024
Janes reports, “Leonardo has teamed with Textron Aviation Defense to offer its M-346 jet trainer for the US Navy's (USN's) Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program. The service's current jet... -
Boeing to Launch First Crewed Test Flight Tonight
6 May 2024
The Washington Post reports, “A decade after NASA awarded Boeing a contract to fly astronauts to the ISS, Boeing will finally attempt to fly its Starliner spacecraft... -
Joby Concludes Flight Testing with Pre-Production eVTOL
3 May 2024
FlightGlobal reports, “US air taxi start-up Joby Aviation has concluded the pre-production flight test programme that it launched four years ago, now transitioning into a production-focused... -
China Embarks on World-First Mission to Collect Samples from Far Side of Moon
3 May 2024
The Washington Post reports, “China on Friday embarked on one of its most ambitious space missions yet: the launch of a probe to retrieve samples from the far side of the moon and bring them back... -
V-22 Program Office Eyes Technology Refresh to Extend Osprey’s Life
2 May 2024
Defense News reports, “The V-22 program office is studying the future of the tiltrotor aircraft, weighing both a technology refresh as well as whether it could rip off the wings... -
Boeing Starliner’s First Crewed Test Flight Scheduled for Next Week
2 May 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “A historic NASA launch planned for early next week could have major implications for... -
MIT and Merlin to Collaborate on Integration of Collision Avoidance Technology
1 May 2024
Aviation International News reports that MIT Lincoln Laboratory “is working with flight automation system developer Merlin on plans to implement new collision avoidance... -
Portal Space Systems Reveals Plans for New Propulsion Technology
1 May 2024
Space News reports, “Startup Portal Space Systems, founded by a former SpaceX and Amazon executive, has unveiled plans for spacecraft that use a novel propulsion technology designed to enable rapid movement... -
Embraer Prepares for More Growth in 2024
30 April 2024
Aviation International News reports, “Embraer on Friday announced plans to invest $390 million and hire 900 additional employees this year to increase... -
NASA’s Viper Moon Rover Undergoing Preparations for Mission Later this Year
30 April 2024
SPACE reports that with its "mighty mast," NASA's Polar Exploration Rover dubbed VIPER continues to be prepped for its mission to the moon... -
Beta Alia-250 Completes First Crewed eVTOL Transition Flight
29 April 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies this week achieved a milestone few eVTOL companies have reached. -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Galileo Satellites from KSC
29 April 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX hit some notable milestones with the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday. -
Archer, Joby to Provide Air Taxi Service in Abu Dhabi
26 April 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Two titans in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi industry are building on their previously announced plans to serve... -
Boeing Starliner Crewed Test Flight Passes Critical Review
26 April 2024
Space News reports, “The first crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is a step closer to launch after completing a major pre-launch review April 25. -
Gulfstream Delivers First Two G700s
25 April 2024
Aviation International News reports, "Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered the first two $75 million G700s to customers, the Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer said yesterday... -
Blue Ghost Mission 1 to Deliver NASA Electric Moon Dust Shield
25 April 2024
SPACE reports, “NASA is sending a technology demonstrator to the moon on the upcoming private Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1 in order to test how to repel and remove lunar dust using electricity... -
Beta Performs Piloted eVTOL Aircraft Transition Flight
24 April 2024
Aviation International News reports, “Beta Technologies has achieved the first piloted transition flights with a prototype of its Alia 250 eVTOL... -
NASA and Rocket Lab Launch Solar Sail
24 April 2024
The New Zealand Herald reports, “NASA has launched its new solar sail mission from Mahia Peninsula. Once at a Sun-synchronous orbit, about 1000 km above Earth... -
US Navy Receives First Two Textron T-54s
23 April 2024
Janes reports, “US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) accepted delivery of the first two Textron T-54 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) aircraft at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi... -
FAA Updates Policy to Require Reentry Licensing
23 April 2024
Aviation Week reports, “After Varda Space’s reentry capsule got stuck in orbit for eight months without permission to return to Earth... -
US Navy Looking at Adding Sierra Nevada to Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS
22 April 2024
Flight Global reports, “The US Navy (USN) has been in discussions with Sierra Nevada about adding the company to the service’s Blue Water Maritime Logistics Unmanned... -
NASA Might Adjust Artemis III to Have Starship and Orion Dock in Low-Earth Orbit
22 April 2024
Ars Technica reports that NASA “is privately considering modifications to its Artemis plan to land astronauts on the surface of the Moon later this decade. Multiple sources have confirmed... -
Army Partners with Electra.aero for Electric Aircraft Testing
19 April 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “The Army on Thursday awarded a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to Electra.aero... -
FAA to Allow Boom Supersonic to Break Sound Barrier
19 April 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “For the first time in its history, the FAA has issued a special flight authorization to allow Boom Supersonic to break the sound barrier. The approval will allow the Colorado startup to fly its XB-1 demonstrator... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches on Next Starlink Mission
18 April 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX completed its latest Falcon 9 launch from pad 39A... -
U.S. Coast Guard Re-ups Arriel Support Contract with Safran
18 April 2024
Aviation International News reports, “Safran Helicopter Engines will continue to support its Arriel engines powering U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) MH-65 helicopters... -
CST-100 Starliner Arrives at Pad for Crewed Test Flight
17 April 2024
Space News reports, “Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is now installed on the Atlas 5 rocket that will launch the spacecraft on a crewed test flight... -
Boom Receives FAA Clearance for XB-1 Supersonic Tests
17 April 2024
Aviation Week reports, “In what the FAA has termed ‘a major federal action,’ the U.S. aviation regulator has granted Boom permission to conduct supersonic overland tests... -
From Vision Through Velocity … Transitioning Technology into Reality
16 April 2024
In the pursuit of a sustainable and high-tech future, researchers, engineers, and pioneers are driving innovation in aviation. 2024 will be a landmark year with the first certification of electric VTOL aircraft... -
Space Economy Generates $6.5 Billion in First Quarter
16 April 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Companies in the space sector raised $6.5 billion from January to March, an increase of 33% over the fourth quarter of 2023... -
CFM International CEO Anticipates Leap Engine Hitting CFM56 Benchmark Soon
16 April 2024
Aviation Week reports, “With some 75% of the new single-aisle engine market and the worst post-pandemic supply chain issues in the rearview mirror...