Aviation Week

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved SpaceX to proceed with the 14th flight of its Starship rocket, according to Aviation Week. The clearance allows the company to move ahead with launch preparations from its Texas site as the program continues iterative testing of the vehicle. Coverage focuses on regulatory approval and what the next test could show about the rocket's progress.

A European defense industry program has won backing from EU member states, according to Aviation Week. The support signals growing agreement among member governments on strengthening Europe's defense industrial base, a priority that has gained urgency amid security concerns on the continent. Details on funding levels and implementation timelines were not included in the initial report, but the endorsement marks a step forward for coordinated EU defense production efforts.

A team of Purdue University researchers is travelling this week to search for the missing plane of aviator Amelia Earhart, who vanished over the Pacific in 1937. The expedition is drawing attention as one of the latest efforts to solve one of aviation's most enduring mysteries, with observers watching to see whether the team can turn up new evidence of the aircraft's fate.

NASA has reportedly approached several former SR-71A Blackbird staff members to help with a secret restart of work connected to the legendary Mach 3 spy plane program. The story, reported by Aviation Week, is drawing attention for suggesting the agency may be reviving expertise and knowledge from the retired aircraft for an undisclosed project.

The White House has put forward its choice to lead U.S. Space Command, the military organization responsible for operations in orbit and beyond. The nomination, reported by Aviation Week, sets up a confirmation process in the Senate for the next commander of the Colorado-based command. Attention will likely focus on the nominee's background and priorities for military space policy.

The Pentagon is moving ahead with space-based target tracking constellations, a network of satellites designed to detect and track missiles, including hypersonic weapons, from orbit. Aviation Week reports the programs are now taking concrete shape, marking a major step in US military space architecture and national missile defense ambitions.

NATO is asking all of its member countries to contribute military space capabilities to the alliance, rather than relying on contributions from a few leading space powers. According to Aviation Week, the alliance wants a broader, alliance-wide approach to military space assets such as satellites and related services. The move reflects growing recognition that space is critical to defence operations and that shared responsibility is needed across the 32-member alliance.

NATO is intensifying its discussions on military space, according to Aviation Week. The alliance's growing focus on space as an operational domain signals preparation for potential threats to satellites and space-based infrastructure, though details of the talks were not provided.

Aviation Week reports that NASA has approached several former SR-71A staff members to assist with a classified effort referred to as a secret restart. The report has prompted surprise and curiosity among aviation enthusiasts, who are speculating about what the hypersonic-era Blackbird's veterans could be helping revive more than two decades after the aircraft's retirement.