Industry News
In This Section
News about the aerospace industry curated by AIAA staff
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SpaceX Targets November 18 for Starship Flight 6 Launch
8 November 2024
Spaceflight Now reports that SpaceX “announced on Wednesday a target launch date of Nov. 18” for its sixth test flight of Starship. -
NASA Initiates Engines Tests on Experimental X-59
8 November 2024
Flying Magazine reports, “NASA has fired up the engine of its experimental X-59 supersonic aircraft for the first time, marking the launch of testing to ensure the powerplant... -
US Air Force Carries Out Dramatic Nighttime Minuteman III Test
7 November 2024
Defense News reports, "Air Force Global Strike Command carried out a test of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile late Tuesday... -
CityAirbus NextGen Prototype Performs First Liftoff
6 November 2024
Vertical Magazine reports, “The CityAirbus NextGen prototype eVTOL aircraft has performed its first liftoff, marking the official start of... -
AstroForge Prepares for Deep-Space Mission to Mine Asteroid
6 November 2024
Mining.com reports, “California-based AstroForge, a pioneer in the field of space mining, is preparing to launch the first fully commercial deep-space mission with the ambitious goal of harvesting... -
RAeS Article: Engineers Weigh in on the Design Freedom of GenAI in Aerospace
5 November 2024
From nuclear-thermal rockets to hypersonic aircraft, today’s aerospace systems are increasingly complex, relying on... -
SpaceX Launches Cargo Dragon Spacecraft on 31st ISS Resupply Mission
5 November 2024
Spaceflight Now reports that a SpaceX Cargo Dragon spacecraft launched Monday evening to begin its fifth journey... -
Boeing’s Largest Union Approves New Contract, Ending Lengthy and Costly Strike
5 November 2024
The New York Times reports, “Members of Boeing’s largest union approved a new contract on Monday, ending a weekslong strike... -
Yearslong Leaks on International Space Station Deemed “Top Safety Risk”
4 November 2024
Scientific American reports, “In the hostile conditions beyond Earth, a spacecraft is all that stands between an astronaut and certain death. So having... -
A400M Operators Set to Receive New Upgrades, Support Package
4 November 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Airbus’ A400M airlifter is set to receive a series of upgrades as part of a new agreement between the launch customer nations. The upgrades package, called Block Upgrade... -
Will China Beat US in Race to Return Mars Samples to Earth?
1 November 2024
SPACE reports, “It appears that China has moved up its agenda for bringing Mars samples to Earth, and aims to do so before the U.S. achieves... -
US Army Purchases Long-Endurance Solar Drones to Monitor Pacific Operations
1 November 2024
Defense News reports, “The Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force has used a small number of Kraus Hamdani Aerospace K1000 Ultra Long-Endurance... -
China’s Three-Person Crew Arrives at Tiangong Space Station
31 October 2024
AP News reports, “A Chinese space ship carrying a three-person crew docked with its orbiting space station as the country seeks to expand... -
Riyadh Air Places Order for 60 Airbus Narrowbody Jets
31 October 2024
Reuters reports, “Saudi Arabia's newest airline Riyadh Air said on Wednesday it had placed an order for 60 Airbus narrowbody A321-family jets... -
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Captures Stunning View of Big Mars Crater
30 October 2024
SPACE reports, “NASA's Perseverance rover took a break from its Mars mountaineering expedition recently to survey its old stomping... -
Japan Grounds Ospreys Following Hard Landing During Exercise
30 October 2024
Aviation Week reports, “The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has grounded its fleet of Bell Boeing V-22 Ospreys following a hard landing incident. -
NASA Determines Cause for Orion Heat Shield Charring
29 October 2024
Aviation Week reports, “NASA says it has determined why its Orion spacecraft returned from its 25-day Artemis I flight test around the Moon with unexpected charring... -
American Airlines Sets New Record with its Longest Flight by Distance
29 October 2024
Simple Flying reports, “American Airlines made history this morning with the arrival of its inaugural... -
NASA’s Europa Clipper Has Some Stops on its Long Road to Jupiter and its Moons
28 October 2024
SPACE reports that the NASA Europa Clipper mission is on its way to Europa, but it has some stops to make before it investigates “the potential habitability... -
Lilium Set to File for Insolvency Protection to Salvage eVTOL Aircraft Plan
28 October 2024
Aviation International News reports, “Lilium is about to file self-administration proceedings in a German court, implementing a form of insolvency protection as it scrambles to line up further investment to complete the development... -
NASA Still Working to Resolve Boeing Starliner Issues After 1st Crewed Test Flight
28 October 2024
SPACE reports that Boeing's Starliner had propulsion issues after launching on its first test mission with astronauts. Six weeks after the mission concluded, “NASA is still working... -
Northrop Anticipates Next B-21 Production Award by End of the Year
25 October 2024
Defense One reports, “Northrop Grumman anticipates getting a second contract to continue producing the Pentagon’s new B-21 Raider by the end of the year, executives announced... -
Crew-8 Splashes Down Off the Coast of Pensacola, Florida
25 October 2024
Spaceflight Now reports that three U.S. astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut have “returned to Earth after spending more than seven months in space. -
GE Aerospace Expands Use of its AI-Powered Blade Inspection Technology
24 October 2024
Aviation Week reports, “GE Aerospace is expanding the use of its artificial intelligence-enabled blade inspection tool to its two most advanced commercial engine platforms. -
Blue Origin’s Second Human-rated New Shepard Makes First Flight
24 October 2024
Space News reports, “Blue Origin carried out the first flight of a new model of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle Oct. 23, a mission the company called ‘nominal and on target’ despite... -
FAA Announces Pilot Training, Certification Rules for Air Taxis
23 October 2024
Reuters reports, “The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday finalized comprehensive training and pilot certification.... -
ULA Preparing Vulcan Rocket for First National Security Mission
23 October 2024
Spaceflight Now reports, “Less than a month after the second of two planned certification launches, United Launch Alliance... -
Strong Growth Ahead for Business Aviation Per Honeywell Forecast
22 October 2024
Flying Magazine reports, this week the annual Honeywell Global Business Aviation Outlook was released... -
Intelsat’s IS-33e Satellite a ‘Total Loss’ After Breaking Up in Orbit
22 October 2024
Via Satellite reports, “Intelsat confirmed on Monday the Intelsat-33e satellite is a “total loss” after a recent ... -
Embraer Aircraft Deliveries Increase by 33% Year on Year
21 October 2024
Aerotime reports, “Embraer has reported strong increases in aircraft deliveries in its latest quarter results, with its Executive Jets segment performing... -
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Eutelsat Satellites from California
21 October 2024
Reuters reports, “Eutelsat, the world's third-biggest satellite operator by revenue, launched 20 satellites for its communications network... -
Honeywell to Work with Merlin on Autonomous Flight Technology
18 October 2024
Avionics International reports, “Honeywell, a supplier of avionics systems, and Merlin, a small company developing software for autonomous military aviation, have partnered to bring... -
Branson Plans to Join Space Perspective Founders on First Crewed Flight
18 October 2024
Aviation Week reports, “Following his July 2021 suborbital flight aboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson... -
Airbus Completes Loading of Autonomous Helicopter in First Demo
17 October 2024
Defense News reports, “Airbus U.S. Space and Defense has conducted its first demonstration as part of a program to build an autonomous, uncrewed version of the UH-72... -
NASA Looking at Options for Continuous Human Presence in LEO After ISS
17 October 2024
Space News reports, “NASA is rethinking its desire for a 'continuous human presence' in low Earth orbit during the transition from the International Space Station to commercial platforms... -
DARPA Funds Sikorsky to Convert Black Hawk Into Drone
16 October 2024
Aerotime reports, “American aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, will convert a United States Army UH-60M Black Hawk into a drone. The company... -
FAA Grants Inversion Space Reentry License for Orbital Cargo Delivery Capsule Demo
16 October 2024
TechCrunch reports, “Inversion Space has become the third company to receive a spacecraft reentry license from the Federal Aviation... -
Rolls-Royce Completes Pearl 10X Test Flights
15 October 2024
Flight Global reports, “Rolls-Royce has completed flight testing of the Pearl 10X engine it is developing for the Dassault Aviation Falcon 10X business jet after a six-month... -
NASA Launches Europa Clipper Mission to Explore Jupiter’s Moon
15 October 2024
Ars Technica reports, “NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft lifted off Monday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, kicking off a $5.2 billion robotic mission... -
Most Florida Airports Back in Service Post-Milton
14 October 2024
Aviation International News reports, “Airports across Florida are shrugging off the results of Hurricane Milton... -
SpaceX Starship Booster Caught by Launch Gantry During Landing
14 October 2024
Aviation Week reports, “A SpaceX Super Heavy booster flew itself back to its Boca Chica Beach, Texas, launchpad where it was caught by a pair of mechanical arms... -
Embraer E190F Freighter Variant Earns FAA Certification
11 October 2024
Simple Flying reports, “Embraer has announced that its E190F passenger-to-freighter (P2F) has been fully certified by the Federal Aviation... -
Space Force to Test New Orbit-Switching Maneuver on X-37B Space Plane
11 October 2024
Defense One reports, “A U.S. X-37B space plane is slated to test a new way of rapidly changing its orbit, part of the Space Force’s quest for fuel-sipping maneuverability. The spacecraft... -
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...