NASA Spaceflight
• Justin Davenport
Six missions are scheduled across launch sites in Norway, India, New Zealand and the United States from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6. Isar Aerospace is targeting the second flight of its Spectrum rocket, while ISRO pursues an Earth-observation launch and SpaceX continues Starlink missions from Vandenberg.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
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Six missions are scheduled across launch sites in Norway, India, New Zealand and the United States from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6. Isar Aerospace is targeting the second flight of its Spectrum rocket, while ISRO pursues an Earth-observation launch and SpaceX continues Starlink missions from Vandenberg.
Japan describes the ASM-3 Kai as an “air-to-surface/anti-air” weapon, suggesting the supersonic cruise missile could be intended to counter large, high-value airborne targets in addition to its established anti-ship mission. The designation points to a potentially broader role for Japan’s air-launched strike arsenal.
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India’s Fly91 is nearing an order for at least 20 ATR turboprop aircraft, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The deal would support the startup’s fleet expansion and deepen its commitment to India’s regional aviation market, which is being encouraged through government subsidies for connectivity.
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Viasat has placed its third ViaSat-3 satellite into commercial service across Asia-Pacific, adding more than one terabit per second of high-throughput Ka-band capacity. The satellite, launched in April 2026, will support connectivity services including those used by Delta Air Lines and Qantas.
The United States and Indonesia began annual joint military exercises featuring tactical airborne jumps, missile firing, jungle training and cyber defense. The drills are the first since Washington and Jakarta announced a new defense partnership this year, broadening the scope of bilateral military cooperation.
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An Air China executive said the airline plans to increase flights to Europe and North America during the second half of the year. The announcement signals additional capacity on China’s long-haul international network, with implications for competition, connectivity and route planning across both markets.
Nepal Airlines’ aircraft debt has reached $368 million, underscoring the scale of its outstanding financing obligations. The figure puts aircraft-related liabilities at the center of the carrier’s financial position, with implications for fleet planning, liquidity management and future access to aircraft financing.
High activity
Philippine Airlines will increase Melbourne service to daily with its A330-300 fleet from Nov. 19, while Korean Air plans to resume nonstop Melbourne-Seoul flights in December after a 13-year absence. Separately, Philippine Airlines’ proposed 50-year legislative franchise has cleared a second reading in the Philippine House.
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