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Aviation & Space

Xona Space Systems to Launch First Production LEO Navigation Satellites in October 2026

Xona Space Systems plans to launch its first six Pulsar satellites in October 2026, promising a signal 100 times stronger than GPS for improved urban and indoor accuracy.

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Apollo 11 Felt-Tip Pen That Saved Moon Landing Sells for $857,600 at Auction

A silver plastic Duro Rocket pen used by Buzz Aldrin to fix a broken circuit breaker on the Apollo 11 lunar module sold at Sotheby's for $857,600, exceeding pre-sale estimates.

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SpaceX Stock Dips Below IPO Price as Starship Launch Abort Rattles Investors

SpaceX shares closed below their initial public offering price on the same day a Starship launch was aborted after ignition, raising questions about investor confidence ahead of the next attempt.

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JWST Finds Hidden Exoplanet in Beta Pictoris System Using Spectroscopy, Not Imaging

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a third planet in the Beta Pictoris system by detecting its chemical fingerprint in spectroscopic data, a technique that could reveal worlds too faint or close to their star for direct imaging.

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Roman Telescope's Active Coronagraph Poised to Directly Image Jupiter-Like Exoplanets

NASA's upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, launching next month, carries an advanced coronagraph that could directly image exoplanets similar to Jupiter, marking a key step toward finding Earth-like worlds.

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Airbus Secures Initial Contract for ESA's Aeolus-2 Wind Satellite

Airbus Defence and Space has signed a preliminary agreement with the European Space Agency to design and build the Aeolus-2 satellite, a successor mission for global wind profiling from orbit.

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Saudia Receives First A321XLR in Middle East and Africa

Saudia has become the first airline in the Middle East and Africa to take delivery of Airbus's A321XLR, an extra-long-range single-aisle aircraft.

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Artemis III’s Three-Rocket Choreography Faces Starship Setback

NASA's Artemis III mission requires three rockets and intricate orbital docking, but a SpaceX Starship launch abort raises concerns about the 2027 timeline.

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Airbus to Modernize JetBlue A320 Fleet with Advanced Cockpit Displays

Airbus will equip JetBlue's A320 aircraft with next-generation cockpit displays, enhancing pilot situational awareness and operational efficiency.

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Airbus Signs €345M Deal for Sentinel-1 NG Radar Instruments

Airbus has been awarded a €345 million contract by Thales Alenia Space to supply two advanced C-band radar instruments for the Copernicus Sentinel-1 Next Generation constellation.

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Mars Express Reveals Dune Field and Water-Related Minerals in Kaiser Crater

New HRSC images of Kaiser Crater show dark dunes, clay minerals, and a dust devil, shedding light on Martian geology and past water activity.

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Airbus Helicopters Secures Multi-Nation Orders as Defense and EMS Demand Surges

Airbus Helicopters has clinched a string of contracts from European governments and operators, while expanding its footprint in Africa and Asia with new H135 and H160 deals.

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SpaceX Unveils Details of Orbital Data Center Satellite AI1

SpaceX has disclosed the size and power specifications of its AI1 satellite, the first iteration of a planned 1-million-satellite orbital data center constellation.

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NASA Repaints Two Iconic Jets in Patriotic Colors for America's 250th Birthday

NASA has repainted an F-15 and an F/A-18 in red, white, and blue to celebrate the U.S. semiquincentennial, with public appearances scheduled through October 2026.

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PZL Mielec starts building Europe's first FIREHAWK helicopters for Czech Republic

PZL Mielec has begun production of Sikorsky S-70 FIREHAWK helicopters for the Czech Republic, marking the first such assembly in Europe. The aircraft will join the RescEU pool.

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Lufthansa takes delivery of first A350-1000, marks 700th Airbus for the group

Lufthansa has received its first Airbus A350-1000, which also becomes the 700th Airbus delivered to the Lufthansa Group. The aircraft wears a special 100th anniversary livery.

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SpaceX Prepares Starship for 13th Test Flight with First Real Starlink V3 Deployment

SpaceX's 13th Starship test flight could launch as soon as Thursday, carrying 20 functioning Starlink V3 satellites and attempting laser crosslink demonstrations.

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Hubble and Webb Find First Stellar-Mass Black Hole in Omega Centauri

Using over 20 years of Hubble archival data and recent Webb observations, astronomers have identified the first stellar-mass black hole in the globular cluster Omega Centauri, named oMEGACat BH-2.

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Atlas Air Worldwide Orders 20 Airbus A350F Freighters, Becoming Largest Customer

Atlas Air Worldwide has placed a firm order for 20 Airbus A350F freighters, making it the largest customer for the new cargo aircraft.

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Airbus Targets 2029 for Operational Uncrewed Combat Aircraft with German Air Force

Airbus is accelerating development of an uncrewed combat aircraft system, aiming for operational capability with the German Air Force by 2029.

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Air China Cargo Doubles Down on A350F Freighter with Order for 10 Aircraft

Air China Cargo has increased its firm order for the Airbus A350F freighter to 10 aircraft, signaling a major fleet modernization push.

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AerCap Orders 100 More Airbus A320neo Family Jets

AerCap, the world's largest aircraft lessor, has placed an order for 100 additional Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, reinforcing demand for fuel-efficient narrowbodies.

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Artemis II mission controller recalls 'the moon looked wrong' during historic lunar flyby

NASA's Artemis II lead communications officer Chris White describes the tense moments during the crew's lunar flyby and the stunning photos that resulted.

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Cathay Group Orders Two Additional Airbus A350F Freighters

Cathay Group has placed an order for two more Airbus A350F cargo aircraft, expanding its commitment to the freighter variant of the A350 family.

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AirAsia Orders 150 Airbus A220-300s in Landmark Deal

Malaysia's AirAsia has placed a firm order for 150 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, marking a significant expansion of its fleet with the latest-generation narrowbody jet.

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Women in Aviation and Logistics Mentorship Program Wraps Up First Cohort

The inaugural mentorship project by Women in Aviation and Logistics has concluded, with 27 participants reporting increased confidence and expanded networks.

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Airbus Bird of Prey Interceptor Completes First Autonomous Demo Flight

Airbus has successfully flown its uncrewed Bird of Prey interceptor for the first time, autonomously engaging a kamikaze drone with a Frankenburg missile.

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RFID Baggage Tracking Mandate Takes Effect in 2020 as Airlines Target Lost Luggage

The International Air Transport Association requires RFID tags on all checked luggage from 2020 to reduce the 25.8 million bags lost or mishandled in 2018. DENSO WAVE EUROPE offers scanners designed for airport use.

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EGYPTAIR Takes Delivery of First Airbus A350-900, Kicks Off Fleet Modernization

EGYPTAIR has taken delivery of the first of 16 Airbus A350-900 aircraft on order, marking the start of a fleet renewal program aimed at improving efficiency and passenger experience.

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EASA Launches Excel Tool to Assess Noise Levels of Light Propeller Aircraft

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has released a new Excel-based tool, ENCODE, to help calculate noise levels and compliance for light propeller-driven aeroplanes under ICAO standards.

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NASA to Outline Next Steps for Moon Base in June 30 Virtual Briefing

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Moon Base program manager Carlos García-Galán will host a virtual event on June 30 to discuss upcoming lunar lander awards and the agency’s long-term plans for a sustained presence on the Moon.

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Seven NATO Nations Launch Joint A400M Fleet Initiative

Belgium, Croatia, France, Poland, Spain, Türkiye and the UK have agreed to a High Visibility Project aimed at pooling resources for the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft.

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Thailand Orders Four Airbus C295 Transports Across Navy and Air Force

The Royal Thai Navy and Air Force have each ordered two Airbus C295 aircraft in different configurations, boosting the country's surveillance, search-and-rescue, and tactical transport capabilities.

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Airbus Opens New A320 Assembly Line in Toulouse

Airbus has inaugurated a new final assembly line for the A320 family at its Toulouse facility, the company announced.

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Tata Advanced Systems Opens India's First Private Helicopter Assembly Line for Airbus H125

Tata Advanced Systems has launched a final assembly line for the Airbus H125 helicopter, marking the first private-sector facility of its kind in India.

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Lab Experiment Validates Penrose Process for Extracting Black Hole Energy

Researchers have demonstrated in a laboratory setting a theoretical mechanism first proposed by Sir Roger Penrose for extracting energy from rotating black holes, confirming predictions made over half a century ago.

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Airbus Teams Up with Mistral AI to Boost Sovereign AI in Aerospace

Airbus has signed a partnership with French AI firm Mistral AI to expand the use of artificial intelligence in aerospace applications, emphasizing European sovereignty.

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SAS Orders 18 Airbus A330neo for Fleet Renewal and Growth

Scandinavian carrier SAS has ordered 18 A330-900 aircraft to modernize its long-haul fleet and support expansion, the airline announced.

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Airbus A350-1000ULR, the World's Longest-Range Aircraft, Completes First Flight

Airbus has successfully flown the A350-1000ULR, a new ultra-long-range variant designed to fly farther than any other commercial aircraft.

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Belgium Receives First Airbus H145M Helicopter in Defense Modernization Push

Airbus has delivered the first H145M helicopter to Belgium, advancing the country's defense and security modernization efforts.

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SpaceX launches two Falcon 9 missions in three days, adds 53 Starlink satellites

SpaceX executed back-to-back Falcon 9 launches from California and Florida, deploying a total of 53 Starlink satellites and setting a new booster reuse record.

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Wally Funk, aviation pioneer and oldest woman in space, dies at 87

Wally Funk, a trailblazing pilot who was denied a NASA career in the 1960s but later flew to space on Blue Origin, has died at 87.

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Mysterious Space Debris Washes Up on Queensland Beach, Sparking Global Interest

Six unidentified objects believed to be space debris have washed ashore at Forrest Beach in north Queensland, drawing international attention to the small community.

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China's Tianwen-2 Probe Reaches Quasi-Moon Kamo'oalewa, Returns First Images

China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft has arrived at the asteroid Kamo'oalewa, Earth's quasi-satellite, and sent back the first pictures of its surface, setting the stage for a sample-return attempt.

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Window Detachment on Ryanair Flight Nearly Sucks Passenger Out Midair

A Ryanair flight to Germany experienced a window detachment midair, nearly pulling a passenger out until fellow travelers intervened.

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