Always on Target
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has commenced operations ahead of schedule, with objectives focused on studying dark matter, dark energy, and potentially habitable exoplanets.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope successfully launched, marking a significant milestone for the space agency's infrared astronomy mission designed to study dark energy, exoplanets, and other cosmic phenomena.
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, named after the space agency's first chief astronomer and 'Mother of Hubble,' has launched. Roman was instrumental in establishing NASA's space-astronomy program and advancing the Hubble mission.
Two Airlink Embraer aircraft performed a low-altitude flypast above Cape Town's DHL Stadium, raising safety concerns after footage showed them passing just metres above the venue during a rugby match.
An Air Atlanta Europe Boeing 747-400 freighter diverted to Amsterdam after encountering an undisclosed technical issue shortly after takeoff from Liège. The aircraft halted its climb and circled over the English Channel before landing at Schiphol.
CORSIA's mandatory carbon offsetting requirements take effect in 2027 for most countries, increasing airline compliance costs and making sustainable aviation fuel adoption more economically advantageous.
The Boeing 787 employs EDAS, a hybrid laminar flow control system designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel efficiency.
Airbus and Boeing employ different identification systems for their hydraulic circuits—Airbus uses color coding while Boeing uses letter designations—reflecting distinct design philosophies in their aircraft architecture.
Uzbekistan has officially confirmed its acquisition of Chinese J-10CE fighter jets, with the aircraft publicly displayed on state television following earlier photographic evidence of the purchase.
The FCC is pursuing a ban on a class of thermal drones used for search-and-rescue operations, including locating lost pets, with public comments closing September 2.
Nepal conducted initial testing of a 220-pound cargo drone following flooding and is seeking international support for heavy-lift drone capacity, while China has deployed 47 cargo drones for relief operations in the region.
Space shuttle Endeavour completed a painstaking 12-mile relocation through Los Angeles to its museum home, taking 68 hours at crawling speeds while crews navigated the 78-foot-wide orbiter around obstacles with minimal clearance.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope successfully launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, nine months ahead of schedule, beginning its three-month transit to the L2 orbital point after overcoming multiple cancellation and funding threats during development.
An Australian pilot completed an epic long-distance ferry flight, piloting a Carbon Cub UL ultralight aircraft approximately 17,000 nautical miles from Washington State to Port Macquarie rather than shipping it.
Flight training company Thrust Flight has established a partnership with Hampton University to provide pilot and mechanic training through the university's aviation program, with a new Virginia campus serving both students and the public.
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, marking a significant milestone for space-based astronomical research and cosmic observation capabilities.
SpaceX launched a Falcon Heavy rocket from Florida carrying a 300-megapixel infrared camera bound for a station at the Sun-Earth L2 point, 1.5 million kilometres away, where it will transmit approximately 1.4 terabytes of compressed astronomical data daily to map billions of galaxies.
A micrometeorite damaged the James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror before operations began, creating a permanent deformation on one segment. Engineers detected and partially corrected the damage using the telescope's own wavefront sensing capabilities, with the instrument remaining within operational specifications.
Researchers assessed micrometeoroid hazards to a lunar base during NASA's Artemis program, modeling that an ISS-sized facility could experience up to 23,000 impacts annually. Modern Whipple shielding is predicted to block 99.9997% of particles, limiting serious penetrations to roughly one event every 27-42 years.
An NTSB final report documents a gyroplane accident investigation that found no mechanical defects prior to impact, with analysis focusing on the pilot's evening pleasure flight.
South African carrier Airlink executed a low-altitude flypast above a rugby stadium in Cape Town, with the lead aircraft passing approximately 50 feet above the venue's roof.
Saab has initiated flight testing of the Gripen F, a two-seat variant of the Gripen E fighter aircraft. The test program will progressively evaluate the aircraft's performance across various flight regimes including speed, altitude, and maneuverability.
Japan continues to serve as a major source of equity financing for global aviation through Japanese operating lease structures, maintaining its significance in transportation finance markets.
Air China Cargo has established a global digital distribution partnership with cargo.one to enhance its freight booking and distribution capabilities across its fleet of 24 dedicated cargo aircraft and additional belly capacity.
Chinese eVTOL manufacturer EHang successfully conducted the first public flight of its EH216-S autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft at Hong Kong Cyberport, advancing development of pilotless urban air mobility.
Air New Zealand reported a significant financial downturn, posting a pre-tax loss of $336 million for FY26, a substantial reversal from the prior year's $164 million profit, reflecting challenging conditions in the airline industry.
Etihad Airways' Captain Huda Al Musallami has become the first Emirati woman to achieve training captain certification in the UAE, marking a significant milestone for diversity in commercial aviation leadership.
General Cherry is promoting its $900 AIR interceptor drone as a cost-effective alternative to Romania's $400,000 missile systems, following Patria's agreement to manufacture drones in Finland.
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on August 30, marking a significant milestone for space-based astronomical observation capabilities.
NASA and Katalyst Space plan to launch the LINK spacecraft to rendezvous with NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, demonstrating proximity operations and servicing capabilities for the aging space telescope experiencing attitude control problems.