11/23/2025, 8:05:14 PM | United States | European Union | Middle East
Aerospace
Developments span lunar mining and Mars missions, FAA flight cuts and a cockpit windshield failure, missile posture shifts, and drone and EW advances.
A busy stretch in aerospace and defense spans lunar ambitions, missile posture, aviation safety and regional displays of power.
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin supported a NASA Mars mission push while private firms race to commercialize lunar helium extraction, highlighting engineering challenges for off‑Earth resource recovery and launch cadence.
In domestic aviation, the FAA issued an emergency order that has reduced flight schedules nationwide; investigators also reported a weather balloon shattered a United 737 MAX windshield—notably windshields are certified to resist a roughly 4 lb bird strike—resulting in pilot injury and renewed scrutiny of cockpit integrity and certification envelopes.
On the military front, the Pentagon cleared Tomahawk cruise missile options as geopolitical tensions play out, even as leaders across Europe await political signals from Washington that could reshape operational postures.
Kinetic and non‑kinetic defenses are advancing: Ukraine and Russia continue to field advanced interceptor drones, and electronic warfare teams are reportedly spoofing navigation on Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to redirect them toward empty areas.
Strategic planners argue the U.S. Space Force must accelerate software integration and leverage commercial breakthroughs, while events like the Dubai Air Show underscore the Middle East’s growing aerospace market and military significance.