Industry News
News about the aerospace industry curated by AIAA staff
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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... -
Weigel Becomes First Female to Serve as ISS Program Manager
15 April 2024
SPACE reports, “Dana Weigel, the first woman to helm the International Space Station [as] program manager, says she's excited to oversee so much commercial space activity... -
Wilbur Air to Partner with Electra for 100 Aircraft
15 April 2024
FlightGlobal reports, “Newly launched Australian start-up Wilbur Air has ambitious plans for electric aviation operations on the continent using an envisioned system... -
Japan Gets Seats on Artemis Moon-landing Missions in Exchange for Lunar Rover
12 April 2024
Ars Technica reports, “US and Japanese officials have signed an agreement to cement a partnership that will pave the way for a Japanese astronaut to walk... -
U.S. Navy Selects K1000ULE Solar-Electric VTOL UAS
12 April 2024
Unmanned Systems Technology reports that the U.S. Navy PMA 263 has chosen Kraus Hamdani Aerospace to equip the U.S. Marine Corps with its K1000ULE solar-electric VTOL... -
China Moving at ‘Breathtaking Speed” In Final Frontier According to Space Force
11 April 2024
SPACE reports that China is ratcheting up its space capabilities at an impressive clip, with an eye toward potentially ending... -
Army Orders Additional Safety Training as Helicopter Crashes Rise
11 April 2024
Defense News reports, “The Army has ordered an aviation “safety stand up,” with additional aviation training across the force following a dozen mishaps... -
Delta Rocket Makes Final Flight
10 April 2024
Ars Technica reports, “The final flight of United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket took off Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with a classified spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. -
Delta Air Lines Reports Narrow Q1 Profit and Says Travel Demand Remains Strong
10 April 2024
The Associated Press reports that Delta Air Lines is reporting a small first-quarter profit and says travel demand is strong heading into summer. -
Russian Space Officials Abort Planned Test Launch of New Heavy-lift Rocket
9 April 2024
The Associated Press reports that a Russian Angara-A5 rocket was set to launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome at 5:00 am ET Tuesday, but the launch was scrubbed... -
Navy Eyes First Test Flight of MQ-25 In Spring 2025
9 April 2024
Defense Daily reports, “After Boeing delivered the first MQ-25 Stingray to the Navy in February for testing, a lead official said Monday the service is on schedule... -
The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is Happening Today
8 April 2024
SPACE reports, “Today (April 8) a total solar eclipse will sweep across North America from Mexico, through 15 U.S. States... -
EHang Receives Production Certificate for Its eVTOL Aircraft
8 April 2024
Aviation International News reports, “The Civil Administration of China (CAAC) has issued a production certificate to EHang, clearing the way for the company to start large-scale series production of its EH216-S autonomous eVTOL aircraft. -
NASA Set to Launch Multiple Rockets During April 8 Total Solar Eclipse
5 April 2024
SPACE reports, "NASA's Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission — named for the Egyptian god of darkness and enemy of the sun god, Ra — will launch the three sounding rockets... -
Flying Magazine Takes a First Look at Joby’s eVOTL Future
5 April 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Today, Joby is a roughly $4 billion-cap enterprise on the cusp of its type certification for-credit testing with the FAA on an evolution... -
ULA Vulcan Unlikely to Launch Again Until Fall
4 April 2024
Ars Technica reports, “After the impressive debut of the Vulcan rocket in January, it is unclear when the heavy lift vehicle will fly again. The uncertainty is due to a couple of factors... -
China’s Three Major Airlines End 2023 with Losses
4 April 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Despite the reopening and relaxing of China’s borders in January 2023, the country’s three state-owned airlines—Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines—all ended 2023... -
Falling Chinese Space Junk Creates Spectacular Fireball Over Southern California
3 April 2024
SPACE reports, “A big piece of Chinese space junk crashed to Earth over Southern California early... -
Unmanned Valkyrie X-58A Joins F-35s in Electronic Attack Demonstration
3 April 2024
Defense Daily reports, “An XQ-58A Valkyrie autonomous unmanned combat aircraft equipped with an electronic attack payload successfully demonstrated suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD)... -
Manufacturing Strategies Highlight Key Difference Between Joby and Archer
2 April 2024
Aviation Week reports, “In many ways, Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are highly similar startups. The two front-runners in the nascent U.S. air taxi market are both developing piloted... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Eutelsat 36D Telecommunications Satellite
2 April 2024
Via Satellite reports, “SpaceX launched the Airbus-built Eutelsat 36D telecommunications satellite for Eutelsat Group over the weekend. It was launched aboard a Falcon 9... -
Archer Performs Battery Pack Drop Test for Midnight Air Taxi
1 April 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Air taxi manufacturer Archer Aviation has reached what it says is a crucial milestone in its test campaign—one that could prove valuable as it pursues type certification for its flagship Midnight aircraft. The company on Friday... -
Gulfstream G700 Achieves FAA Certification
1 April 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has obtained FAA type certification for the G700, the Savannah, Georgia-based company announced Friday. The milestone paves the way... -
First Boeing Starliner Astronauts, Wilmore and Williams, Ready to Launch to ISS
1 April 2024
SPACE reports, “Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams told Space.com and a small group of reporters at NASA's Johnson... -
After the Concorde, a Long Road Back to Supersonic Travel
29 March 2024
An Ars Technica report discusses the possibility of achieving supersonic flight without loud booms, noting that NASA is working on it. -
Launch of 22 Starlink Satellites from California Delayed
29 March 2024
SPACE reports, “SpaceX has reset the launch of another batch of its Starlink internet satellites to no sooner than Friday evening (March 29). -
FAA Awards uAvionix BVLOS Contract
28 March 2024
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “uAvionix is to advance the commercial utilization of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) through a Federal Aviation... -
ULA Delta IV Heavy Set to Fly Once More
28 March 2024
Ars Technica reports United Launch Alliance's last Delta IV Heavy rocket is set to lift off Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station... -
Boeing to Invest In Long-Term MQ-28 Production in Australia
27 March 2024
Aviation Week Network reports, “Boeing will launch construction in Australia later this year of the company’s first final assembly facility outside of North America... -
NASA, Boeing Target May 1 for First Crewed Starliner Flight to Space Station
27 March 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “NASA is five weeks away from putting astronauts aboard a new commercial crew capsule. May 1 is the target launch... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Marks 175th Flight from Cape Canaveral
26 March 2024
Spaceflight Now reports “SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Monday evening with 23 Starlink satellites on board,” marking the 175th... -
Boom’s XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator Takes Flight for First Time
26 March 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Boom Supersonic flew its XB-1 demonstrator—the world’s first privately developed faster-than-sound... -
Russia Launches One-man, Two-woman Crew to Space Station
25 March 2024
CBS News reports, “Two days after a rare last-second launch abort, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft blasted off Saturday on a flight to the International... -
Remote ID Rule for Drone Operators in Full Effect
25 March 2024
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “The FAA policy, for exercising discretion in determining whether to take enforcement action for drone operators... -
DoD Innovation Unit to Study Firefly Vehicle for Missions Beyond Earth Orbit
22 March 2024
Space News reports, “The Defense Innovation Unit announced March 21 it has signed an agreement with Firefly Aerospace to study the potential use... -
Eve Air Mobility Brands UATM Solution ‘Vector’
22 March 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Eve Air Mobility has chosen the name Vector for its in-development urban air traffic management... -
Rocket Lab Launches NROL-123 Mission in 4th US Liftoff
21 March 2024
SPACE reports, “Rocket Lab launched from the U.S. for the fourth time ever Thursday morning (March 21), sending mystery payloads aloft for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office... -
Airbus Wins Most of Japan JAL's Order for 42 New Planes
21 March 2024
Reuters reports that Japan Airlines will buy 42 planes from Airbus and Boeing, it said on Thursday, in a breakthrough... -
SpaceX Preparing Rapid Turnaround for Next StarShip Launch
20 March 2024
Space News reports, “SpaceX hopes to conduct the next launch of its Starship vehicle as soon as early May, a schedule that will depend on how quickly... -
US Air Force Completes Final Test of Lockheed’s Hypersonic Missile
20 March 2024
Defense News reports, “The U.S. Air Force on Sunday carried out what is expected to be the final test of the hypersonic AGM-183A... -
SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 Rocket on Starlink Flight from Vandenberg SFB
19 March 2024
Spaceflight Now reports that a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the Starlink 7-16 mission Monday at 7:28 p.m. PT from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandendberg Space Force Base in California. The mission took place as SpaceX prepares to launch a Dragon spacecraft... -
Early eVTOL Aircraft Deliveries Increase EHang's Revenues
19 March 2024
Aviation International News reports, “Early deliveries of its autonomous two-seat EH216-S eVTOL aircraft boosted EHang’s revenues in the fourth quarter of 2023. Having secured type certification... -
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Ready to ‘Touch the Sun’
18 March 2024
The Washington Post reports that a risky NASA mission is about to send a spacecraft hurtling practically within spitting distance of the sun. The Parker Solar Probe is designed... -
Brazil's Embraer Sees Deliveries, Revenue Growing in 2024
18 March 2024
Reuters reports that Brazilian planemaker Embraer expects both its aircraft deliveries and revenues to grow in 2024, the company said on Monday. -
SpaceX’s Starship Launches On Third and Most Successful Test Flight
15 March 2024
The Washington Post reports, “SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft made it to space and traveled more than halfway around the world... -
F-35 Achieves Long-Delayed Full-Rate Production Milestone
15 March 2024
Aviation Week reports, “The Lockheed Martin F-35 has been approved for full-rate production by the U.S. Defense Department in a long-delayed decision that comes after... -
This Company Aims to be the First to Mine the Moon
14 March 2024
The Washington Post reports, “Nearly a decade ago, Congress passed a law that allows private American space companies the rights to resources they mine on celestial bodies, including the moon.. Now Interlune, founded by former Blue Origin executives... -
Lilium to Partner with Atlantic Aviation to Electrify More Than 100 Atlantic FBOs
14 March 2024
Flying Magazine reports Atlantic Aviation “on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Germany’s Lilium to electrify its network of more than 100 FBOs.” -
Japan’s Space One Rocket Explodes Moments After Launch
13 March 2024
AP News reports, “A commercial rocket trying to put a satellite into orbit was intentionally exploded shortly after liftoff Wednesday morning in central Japan following a problem that’s still under investigation.” -
Boeing MH-139 Nuclear Security Helicopter Enters Operational Service
13 March 2024
FlightGlobal reports, “An operational US Air Force unit has for the first time received one of the new Grey Wolf helicopters, which will replace the Bell UH-1N... -
4 Space Station Crew Members Head for Tuesday Splashdown
12 March 2024
CBS News reports, “A SpaceX Crew Dragon ferry ship carrying four long-duration crew members undocked from the International Space Station... -
Stratolaunch TA-1 Hypersonic Test Vehicle Makes First Powered Flight
12 March 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “Stratolaunch has completed the first powered flight of its TA-1 test vehicle, marking what the company called a ‘major milestone...