Industry News
News about the aerospace industry curated by AIAA staff
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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... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
SpaceX Launches 23 More Starlink Satellites from California
11 March 2024
SPACE reports, “SpaceX launched 23 more of its Starlink internet satellites from California on Monday (March 11), in the second leg of a spaceflight doubleheader.“ -
DoD Clears V-22’s to Fly
11 March 2024
Defense Daily reports, “The Defense Department approved all variants of the V-22 Ospreys for flight clearance following a months-long review... -
Airbus Unveils Completed CityAirbus NextGen Prototype
8 March 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Network Airbus has unveiled the completed prototype of its CityAirbus NextGen electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing advanced air mobility aircraft. -
NASA High-Altitude Balloon Sets New Flight Record
8 March 2024
SPACE reports that NASA's GUSTO mission, which launched from Antarctica on Dec. 31, set a new agency record for a heavy-lift, long-duration scientific balloon flight. -
SpaceX Launches Starlinks from East Coast, 10th Rideshare Mission from West Coast On Same Day
7 March 2024
Aviation Week reports, “SpaceX completed a pair of overlapping Falcon 9 missions on March 4.” One mission launched 23 Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida, while another, Transporter-10, launched from the West Coast... -
Rafale Ramps Up Production to Meet Soaring Demand
7 March 2024
FlightGlobal reports, “Dassault Aviation continues to increase production of its Rafale fighter to meet soaring demand from the export market as total orders for -
Chinese Astronauts Fix Tiangong Space Station Solar Wing in 8-hour Spacewalk
6 March 2024
SPACE reports that a pair of Chinese astronauts spent eight hours outside their Tiangong Space Station... -
Whisper Aero Introduces 100-Seat Electric Airliner Concept
6 March 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Ultraquiet propulsion developer Whisper Aero is proposing a concept for a 100-seat battery-electric regional airliner in a bid to help aviation... -
SpaceX’s Crew-8 Dragon Capsule Arrives at ISS
5 March 2024
SPACE reports, “SpaceX's Crew-8 astronaut mission arrived at the International Space Station early Tuesday morning (March 5).” The Dragon capsule docked... -
American Airlines Boosts Its Fleet Plan with Order of 260 Narrowbody and Regional Jets
5 March 2024
FlightGlobal reports, “American Airlines has placed orders for 260 new aircraft... -
How NASA's Working with SpaceX, Blue Origin for Artemis Moon Mission
4 March 2024
CBS News reports that American astronauts aren't heading back to the moon just yet. NASA's pricey Artemis mission is facing technical challenges. -
Airline Industry Has One of Its Safest Years In 2023
4 March 2024
FlightGlobal reports, “While the airline industry might have had an inauspicious start to 2024 in safety terms, it can still point to a recent safety record that is both historically impressive... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Makes Rare Leap Day Launch
1 March 2024
Spaceflight Now reports that at 10:30 a.m. EST Thursday, SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Starlink 6-40 mission... -
General Atomics’ XQ-67A Makes First Flight
1 March 2024
Defense One reports, "General Atomics’ new air combat drone has flown, another step toward what the Air Force is calling the ‘first of a second generation’ of autonomous... -
ISS Air Leak Poses No Danger to Crew According to Russian Space Officials
29 February 2024
AP News reports Russian space officials have acknowledged a continuing air leak from the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), but say “it poses no danger to its crew.” -
Norway Considers Grounding Sikorsky Helicopters After Fatal Crash
29 February 2024
Reuters reports, “Norway on Thursday halted all helicopter traffic to its offshore oil and gas fields after a deadly crash, and said it was considering grounding Sikorsky's S-92A aircraft model while investigating .... -
Intuitive Machines’ Moon Lander Mission to End Early
28 February 2024
The Washington Post reports, "Odysseus, the first privately developed spacecraft to touch down on the lunar surface, has only hours left to live, the company that operates it said Tuesday, bringing..." -
T-7A Red Hawk Trainer Wraps Up Extreme Temperature Testing
28 February 2024
Flying Magazine reports that the U.S. Air Force’s new Boeing T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer has finished extreme temperature testing to evaluate “its endurance... -
Odysseus Moon Lander Sends Photos Home Before Spacecraft Likely Dies
27 February 2024
The New York Times reports “The privately built American spacecraft’s ability to send home images and other data has been limited by its sideways landing... -
Embraer’s Phenom 300 Remains Top-Selling Business TwinJet
27 February 2024
Aviation International News reports, “Following the release of the 2023 year-end delivery numbers by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Embraer announced that for the 12th consecutive year... -
NASA SpaceX Crew-8 Mission to Launch Friday
27 February 2024
Flying Magazine reports, "NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission is set to launch via a Falcon 9 rocket Friday, ferrying three space agency astronauts and a Roscosmos cosmonaut to the International Space Station (ISS)." -
Intuitive Machines’ Moon Lander Lying on Its Side but Still Functional
26 February 2024
The New York Times reports “The Odysseus spacecraft was drifting horizontally as it set down, and a landing strut may have hit an obstacle on the surface... -
Joby Aviation Achieves Key Air Taxi Certification Milestone
26 February 2024
Flying Magazine reports “It’s full steam ahead for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi manufacturer Joby Aviation.” The company recently reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 earnings.... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 24 Starlink Satellites
26 February 2024
Spaceflight Now reports “SpaceX launched its biggest batch of second generation Starlink Satellites to date on Sunday.” The launch was the first featuring a batch... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink Satellites from West Coast
23 February 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the West Coast with another batch of 22 Starlink satellites at 8:11 p.m. PST Thursday... -
Singapore Airshow Hosts Record Number of Attendees as Post-COVID Boom Raises Hopes
23 February 2024
Reuters reports that “record numbers attended the trade section of the first fully post-pandemic Singapore Airshow this week, with exhibitors and delegates optimistic...