All articles tagged with #aerospace
Researchers using ground-based lidar detected a large lithium plume from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper-stage reentry ~62 miles up over Europe, marking the first observed upper-atmosphere pollution from space debris. As satellite constellations grow, such reentries could alter atmospheric composition and potentially impact the ozone layer, though the long-term climate effects remain unknown.
NASA Langley’s Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren (SAFS) imaging uses light polarization to visualize airflows in wind tunnels, simplifying beyond traditional dual-grid schlieren setups. Since its 2020 debut, SAFS offers faster, cheaper, on-site flow visualization, captures complex shock structures around boosters, and is now used by 50+ institutions in 8+ countries, earning the 2025 R&D 100 Award and NASA’s Government Invention of the Year.
Boeing announced its Defense, Space and Security headquarters will move back to St. Louis from Arlington, reuniting the unit with the region that housed it from 1997–2017. The relocation aims to bring leaders closer to major engineering, production and manufacturing centers, with the St. Louis area employing more than 18,000 Boeing workers across three facilities. The move was celebrated by state and federal officials and follows last year’s 15-week machinists strike, which ended after voters approved a new contract.
China publicized a concept for an orbital mothership called Luan Niao as part of the South Heaven Gate project, envisioned to launch 88 Xuan Nu autonomous drones from space. The behemoth would be about 800 feet long with a 2,244-foot wingspan and up to 120,000 tons, but experts say the energy and engineering hurdles make it a distant fantasy, despite reflecting rapid aerospace ambitions.
At the Singapore Airshow, China's COMAC showcased its C919 as a potential rival to Boeing and Airbus, highlighting government backing, lower prices, and growing demand in Asia-Pacific, while European certification and a complex, stretched supply chain pose hurdles to a rapid global rollout.
Boeing posted Q4 EPS of $9.92 on $23.9B in revenue, aided by an $11.83 per-share gain from selling Digital Aviation Solutions; excluding that gain, the quarter would show about a $2 loss. Deliveries jumped to 160 jets in Q4, and the company guided for about 690 total deliveries in 2026 (roughly 500 MAX deliveries and 530 built) with earnings near $2 per share and around $2 billion in free cash flow. The FAA has raised MAX output toward 42–50 per month, and Boeing is aiming to ramp production to support a recovery in profitability. After an initial premarket dip, the stock moved higher as investors welcomed delivery progress and guided improvements on production and cash flow.
Boeing is set to report Q4 2025 results after the close on Jan. 27; TipRanks traders expect about a 4.72% move in BA shares in response. Street estimates show a narrower loss of $0.45 per share on revenue around $22.25 billion as production/delivery activity improves, with focus on the 737 MAX and 787 programs. Investors will scrutinize cash flow, margins, and 2026 guidance, while analysts maintain a Strong Buy consensus with an average target near $248.77, implying upside.
Boeing beat expectations in Q4 2025 with about $23.95 billion in revenue and $9.92 per share, as 2025 deliveries reached 600 aircraft—the most since 2018—fueling optimism for 2026 despite ongoing regulatory and production pace challenges.
The Pentagon will provide a $1 billion anchor investment to L3Harris’s Missile Solutions spinoff (born from Aerojet Rocketdyne) to expand solid rocket motor production for key missiles including the Army’s PAC-3/THAAD and the Navy’s Tomahawk, fund facility modernization, and enable multiyear procurement agreements. The standalone company is slated for a late-2026 IPO, with L3Harris maintaining controlling interest; the move is part of a direct-to-supplier strategy to bolster the U.S. munitions supply chain.
The stock market experienced significant gains with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq reaching new highs, driven by strong earnings, a surprise jobs report, and positive sector performances, including aerospace and defense stocks, amid ongoing economic and political developments.
Stanley Black & Decker plans to sell its aerospace manufacturing unit, CAM, to Howmet Aerospace for $1.8 billion to reduce debt and fund growth opportunities, with the deal expected to close in 2026.
Finland celebrated the debut of its first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet at Lockheed Martin's facility, marking a significant enhancement of its air capabilities and strengthening NATO and trans-Atlantic relations. The aircraft will bolster Finland's defense, improve interoperability with allies, and is part of a broader industrial partnership, with the first jet expected to be delivered in early 2026.
Defense and aerospace companies like GE Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Lockheed Martin raised their 2025 outlooks due to increased demand despite economic uncertainties, with strong quarterly performances and optimistic forecasts for revenue and earnings growth.
Pratt & Whitney is accelerating the development of its XA103 engine for the U.S. Air Force's NGAP program by utilizing advanced digital design models, which are helping to shorten development times, reduce costs, and improve design efficiency. The company has invested over $30 million in enhancing its digital environment, enabling faster data sharing and collaboration across its engineering teams and suppliers. The engine is expected to undergo testing in the late 2020s.
Aerostar Tillamook, a little-known aerospace company in Oregon, specializes in high-tech fabric for space and atmospheric applications, including NASA-certified airtight membranes for space, high-altitude balloons, and spacecraft airbags, contributing significantly to space exploration and research.