Defense News reports the service hopes having two B-21s at Edwards Air Force Base will allow it to begin testing the bomber’s “weapons integration and critical mission systems.”
Full Story (Defense News)
Tag: September 2025
Study Suggests Solar Flares Are Far Hotter Than Thought
SPACE reports new research shows that solar flares are “six times hotter than earlier estimates” and calls for updated sun models that could improve space weather forecasting.
Full Story (SPACE)
Former Shuttle Commander Pam Melroy Joins Venus Aerospace After Groundbreaking RDRE Flight
SPACE reports former NASA deputy chief and shuttle commander Pam Melroy has joined Venus Aerospace’s board after its groundbreaking RDRE flight, bringing her “decades of experience” to help scale the startup’s propulsion technology.
Full Story (SPACE)
NASA’s X-59 Demonstrator Gearing Up for Flight-Test Phase
Aerotime reports, “NASA says the futuristic-looking X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is closing in on its first flight, with engineers conducting final checks of safety systems as the program moves from ground testing toward the all-important flight-test phase.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha Rocket Cleared to Fly Again
SPACE reports, “The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared Firefly Aerospace to resume launches of its Alpha rocket. The approval follows a months-long review of the mission in April, during which the rocket’s first stage broke apart moments after separation and compromised the vehicle’s second stage.”
Full Story (SPACE)
GA-ASI and Aerovironment Validate Large UAS as Motherships with Switchblade 600 Test
Unmanned Systems Technology reports GA-ASI and AeroVironment completed a milestone test by launching a Switchblade 600 from an MQ-9A, demonstrating “large UAS capability as motherships.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)
Uber Partners with Flytrex On Food Delivery by Drone
CBS News reports, “Your next Uber Eats order could get delivered to you via drone. Uber Technologies announced Thursday it is partnering with Flytrex, an autonomous drone delivery system, to fly food deliveries to its customers. The company said it would roll out the service in U.S. Uber Eats pilot markets by the end of the year.”
Full Story (CBS News)
Video
Uber Eats Drone.
Drone News; YouTube
DoD Validates Kraus Hamdani Aerospace’s K1000ULE UAS for Defense and Commercial Use
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “Kraus Hamdani Aerospace’s fully electric, long-endurance K1000ULE UAS has been added to the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit Blue UAS Cleared and Select Lists, confirming it as a trusted, secure, NDAA-compliant drone ready for immediate procurement.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)
Videos
K1000ULE VTOL Landing
(Stefan Kraus; YouTube)
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus Cargo Capsule Arrives at ISS a Day Late After Engine Issue
AP News reports, “A supply ship arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday after a day’s delay due to a premature engine shutdown. Astronauts used the space station’s robot arm to pluck Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus capsule from orbit as they soared over Africa.”
Full Story (AP News)
Northrop Grumman Delays Supply Delivery to ISS Due to Engine Trouble
AP News reports, “A newly launched supply ship has run into engine trouble that is preventing it from reaching the International Space Station. Northrop Grumman’s capsule rocketed into orbit Sunday from Florida aboard SpaceX. But less than two days later, the capsule’s main engine shut down prematurely while trying to boost its orbit. The Cygnus capsule was supposed to dock Wednesday, delivering more than 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) of cargo. But NASA said everything is on hold while flight controllers consider an alternate plan.”
Full Story (AP News)
Call for Content Deadline Extended to 25 September
ASCEND connects the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, along with adjacent industries, to embrace the opportunities and address the challenges that come with increased activity in space. Building our sustainable off-world future requires long-term thinking. Strategic planning, innovation, scientific exploration, and effective regulations and standards will help us preserve space for future generations. ASCEND will enable the technical exchanges, debates, and collaboration that will help forge a sustainable off-world future for all.
CALL FOR CONTENT FOR ASCEND 2026 CLOSES 25 SEPTEMBER.
NASA Invites Students to Submit Proposals to Fix Aviation Maintenance
Flying Magazine reports, “U.S. college students have the opportunity to score NASA internships by sharing ideas for aviation maintenance technologies. The space agency on Friday announced the theme for its 2026 Gateways to Blue Skies competition—“RepAir: Advancing Aviation Maintenance” for commercial passenger and cargo operations. Teams of collegiate students are invited to submit proposals that incorporate automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other technologies. Their objective is to devise a solution that could improve maintenance efficiency, safety, or costs and be implemented within the next decade.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Lockheed’s Skunk Works Unveils Vectis Stealth Drone
Breaking Defense reports, “Lockheed Martin’s secretive Skunk Works advanced development arm has unveiled a new project — a stealthy autonomous drone it calls Vectis that Lockheed intends to fly by the end of 2027. The first Vectis prototype is currently ‘in progress,’ but is envisioned as a large ‘Category 5’ reusable drone designed to be customizable to match shifts in the threat environment, said OJ Sanchez, Skunk Works’s vice president and general manager.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
Blue Origin to Land NASA’s Ice-hunting VIPER Rover on Moon in 2027
SPACE reports, “VIPER has officially come back from the dead. The NASA moon robot, whose name is short for ‘Volatiles Investigating Polar Explorer Rover,’ will hitch a ride to the lunar surface with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin in late 2027, agency officials announced this afternoon.”
Full Story (SPACE)
Firefly Aerospace Anticipates Resumption of Alpha Launches Soon
Space News reports, “Firefly Aerospace expects to resume Alpha launches in the ‘coming weeks’ with two flights planned before the end of the year. The company shared details of its return-to-flight efforts during a Sept. 22 earnings call, its first since going public on the Nasdaq Aug. 7.”
Full Story (Space News)
US Air Force Chief Says F-47 is Being Built and Will Make First Flight in 2028
Defense News reports, “The Air Force’s first F-47 fighter is now being built by Boeing, and the advanced jet is expected to have its initial flight in 2028, Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said Monday. Allvin, speaking at the Air and Space Forces’ Air, Space and Cyber Conference, said that Boeing’s team worked quickly to start manufacturing the sixth-generation fighter after their selection was announced in March.”
Full Story (Defense News)
Archer’s Midnight eVTOL Achieves 7,000-foot Milestone
Military Aerospace reports, “Archer Aviation Inc. in Salinas, Calif., announced that its Midnight aircraft completed its highest altitude flight to date, reaching 7,000 feet as part of ongoing envelope expansion testing.”
Full Story (Military Aerospace)
SpaceX Performs Starship Static Fire Test Ahead of 11th Test Flight
SPACE reports SpaceX performed a full-duration static fire test with its latest Starship spacecraft recently to help gear up for the 11th test flight of the massive “megarocket, which may be just around the corner.”
Full Story (SPACE – with video)
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 28 Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral
Spaceflight Now reports the Starlink 10-15 mission came a day after SpaceX launched a trio of spacecraft to study the effects of the Sun. “Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station” took place at 4:39 a.m. EDT.
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches from Cape Canaveral (Launch takes place at the 59:47 mark)
Spaceflight Now; YouTube
Amazon’s Project Kuiper Constellation Reaches 129 Satellites with ULA Launch
Via Satellite reports, “Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation reaches 129 satellites after United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched another batch on Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This was Kuiper’s fifth launch overall, and the third mission with ULA on an Atlas V rocket. Amazon confirmed post-launch the mission was successful. The launch deployed 27 Kuiper satellites to an altitude of 465 kilometers, and they will orbit-raise to their final altitude.”
Full Story (Via Satellite)
Video
ULA Atlas V Launches Project Kuiper (Launch takes place at the 54:45 mark)
NASASpaceflight; YouTube