March 2023 Archive: Your Quick Catch‑Up on Aviation, Space and Weather

If you’re wondering what we covered in March, you’re in the right spot. This page pulls together the most talked‑about stories from the skies, beyond Earth, and down here on the weather front. Grab a coffee, skim the headlines, and dive deeper into any story that catches your eye.

Aviation News That Took Off in March

First up, the jet world had a busy month. Boeing finally rolled out the first 777‑9 for a major airline, promising lower fuel burn and more cabin space. Fans of regional travel saw a new turboprop from ATR hitting the runway, aimed at short‑haul routes in Europe and Africa.

Airlines also reshuffled routes after the holiday rush. A popular carrier opened a direct link between Delhi and Nairobi, cutting travel time by a full day. Meanwhile, a low‑cost carrier announced a fleet refresh, swapping older A320s for the newer A320neo models to cut emissions.

On the tech side, a startup unveiled a prototype electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The prototype completed its maiden flight in a quiet desert field, showing a promising path for urban air mobility. If you’ve ever imagined a passenger drone, this is the first real step.

Space and Weather Highlights

Space lovers had a lot to cheer about. NASA’s Artemis I mission completed its uncrewed test flight around the Moon, delivering the Orion capsule safely back to Earth. The data will shape the crewed Artemis II launch planned for next year.

SpaceX added another Falcon 9 to its launch record, putting a communications satellite into geostationary orbit for a telecom provider. The booster landed back on the drone ship, ready for another flight.

On the scientific side, a new study from the European Space Agency showed how satellite data can improve early warnings for flash floods. The model was tested on a series of river basins in Central Europe and helped emergency teams respond faster.

Back on Earth, March was stormy. A powerful low‑pressure system swept across the Midwest, bringing hail, gusty winds, and a brief tornado that touched down near a small town in Iowa. The National Weather Service issued a high‑impact warning, and our live coverage helped residents stay informed.

In the tropics, a Category 2 hurricane churned in the Atlantic, prompting evacuations in parts of the Caribbean. Our post‑mortem analysis highlighted how sea surface temperature anomalies contributed to the storm’s rapid intensification.

For climate geeks, the Global Weather Outlook released in March warned of a hotter-than‑average summer across the Northern Hemisphere. Our commentary broke down what that means for agriculture, travel, and energy demand.

Beyond the headlines, we also launched a weekly podcast where our editors answer reader questions about flight safety, space mission timelines, and how to read weather maps. Episodes from March are still available for anyone who missed them.

That’s the gist of what happened on our site in March 2023. Whether you’re an airline buff, a space enthusiast, or just trying to understand the next storm, you’ll find a handy recap here. Feel free to click into any article for the full story and stay tuned for what May brings.