The 45th DASC is an annual gathering of industry leaders, professionals, and experts in Avionics Sytems. It serves as a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration, attracting a diverse audience from around the world. The 45th DASC offers a comprehensive agenda featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions, all focused on the latest trends, innovations, and challenges in our industry.
Monday, 18 May 2026
Reception: 6–7 p.m.
Dinner: 7:15–10 p.m.
If you would like to sit with a newly inducted Fellow, please send your request to Patricia Carr by 25 April 2026.
Honorary Fellow is the highest distinction conferred by AIAA, and recognizes preeminent individuals who have had long and highly contributory careers in aerospace and who embody the highest possible standards in aeronautics and astronautics.
2026 AIAA Honorary Fellows
Laura J. McGill, Sandia National Laboratories
Daniel J. Scheeres, University of Colorado Boulder
Steven H. Walker, Lockheed Martin Corporation (retired)
AIAA confers the distinction of Fellow upon individuals in recognition of their notable and valuable contributions to the arts, sciences or technology of aeronautics and astronautics.
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The objective of the AIAA Southern California Aerospace Systems and Technology (SoCal ASAT) Conference is to bring together seasoned and new engineers, researchers, leaders, managers, academia and students, and provide a forum to exchange new ideas, review achievements, and chart a new course for aerospace in the local area. The AIAA Orange County and San Gabriel Valley Sections will highlight their activities during the past year during the included luncheon. Members, as well as non-members, are welcome.
Southern California has had a rich history of leadership and innovation in the aerospace industry. Many aircraft, spacecraft, missile, and space exploration programs were conceived and executed here within a several mile radius of each other. The amount of talent, experience, and expertise that resides in the area is immeasurable. However, the nature, landscape, and focus of the local aerospace industry are rapidly changing. The objective of the AIAA Southern California Aerospace Systems and Technology (SoCal ASAT) Conference is to bring together seasoned and new engineers, researchers, leaders, managers, academia, and students and provide a forum to exchange new ideas, review achievements, and chart a new course for aerospace in the local area. Come share your expertise and insights with other local professionals and tap this unprecedented resource.
The 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) will take place in Midland, Texas from June 15–20, 2026.
The Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2003 for the purpose of fostering and promoting engineering knowledge and experience in the field of rocketry. ESRA’s mission is to provide safe and exciting opportunities for academic groups to compete in aerospace challenges.
In 2006, ESRA established the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) which has since grown from a handful of U.S. based collegiate teams to welcoming over 180 collegiate teams from 22 countries on 6 different continents. During the IREC each team designs, builds, tests and launches rockets with a payload size >2kg and target altitudes of 10,000 to 100,000 feet. Rockets are typically 4 to 8 inches in diameter and 8 to 20 ft. long. Multistage rockets and all chemical propulsion types (solid, liquid, and hybrid) are allowed.
The IREC isn’t just a competition, it’s a launchpad for innovation and careers. This year, 175 teams have successfully applied and been accepted to participate in the 2026 IREC to push the limits of high-powered rocketry, applying classroom theory to real-world engineering challenges, and break new IREC records!
In partnership with the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association, AIAA is proud to support the world’s largest university rocket engineering competition.
It is our great pleasure to invite you to the 11th International Conference on Recent Advances in Air and Space Technologies (RAST2026). 11th RAST conference will be held on 13–15 May 2026 in honor of the 75thanniversary of the establishment of NDU Turkish Air Force Academy. The conference will be a face-to-face event in Istanbul, Türkiye.
International Conference on Recent Advances in Air and Space Technologies (RAST) is held by the National Defence University, Turkish Air Force Academy at the international level biennially.
As in previous conferences, contributions to the 11th RAST Conference are expected from institutions such as the Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of Industry andTechnology, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Turkish General Staff, Turkish Air Force Command, Presidency of Defence Industries, General Directorate of Mapping, General Directorate of Military Factories, TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute, TÜBİTAK Defence Industries Research and Development Institute, TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center, as well as distinguished international universities.
RAST2026 is intended to be a forum for the exchange of recent research results and ideas in air and space technologies. It should be of interest to a wide range of participants from government agencies, relevant international institutions, universities, research organizations, and air and space companies, as well as media and the general public. Presentations are encouraged by international space agencies as well as the private sector.
The 5th IAA Conference on Space Situational Awareness will take place at Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain, 7–9 April 2026.
The foremost purpose of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is to provide decision-making processes with a quantifiable and timely body of evidence (predictive/imminent/forensic) of behavior(s) attributable to specific space domain threats and hazards. The conference will cover broad-ranging technical and policy related aspects associated with the topic of SSA.
The American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocket competition, has engaged over 100,000 middle and high school students in model rocketry. The challenge provides a yearlong opportunity to gain hands-on engineering experience by designing, building, testing, and launching model rockets to meet rigorous requirements. The program fosters leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills as students deepen their interest and passion for aerospace and STEM.
The Top 100 teams are invited to compete at National Finals for a share in $100k in awards and the chance to represent the United States at the International Rocketry Challenge at the Farnborough or Paris Air Show.
National Finals is open to the public and is an opportunity for aerospace enthusiasts and families to see these young innovators in action, connect with aerospace organizations, and join in some hands-on fun.
Join us 18–20 May 2027 to access inspiring sessions and premium content, develop valuable business leads, and make meaningful connections. More details on ASCEND 2027 will be available soon.
The AIAA through the Applied Aerodynamics, Aircraft Design, Design Engineering and Flight Test Technical Committees and the AIAA Foundation invites all university students to participate in the Cessna/Raytheon Missile Systems Student Design Build Fly competition. The contest will provide a real-world aircraft design experience for engineering students by giving them the opportunity to validate their analytic studies;
Student teams will design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric powered, radio controlled aircraft which can best meet the specified mission profile. The goal is a balanced design possessing good demonstrated flight handling qualities and practical and affordable manufacturing requirements while providing a high vehicle performance.
To encourage innovation and maintain a fresh design challenge for each new years participants, the design requirements and performance objective will be updated for each new contest year. The changes will provide new design requirements and opportunities, while allowing for application of technology developed by the teams from prior years.
Conference Host: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Conference Venue: Russell House
Conference Dates: 26–27 March 2026
Take part in AIAA’s Regional Student Conference by presenting your research in a formal technical meeting, exchange ideas, and discuss programs with students from other universities in your region.
Please note: A high school or university student in good standing at their institution who is also an AIAA student member is eligible to submit a paper to the Regional Student Conference. The submitting and presenting author(s) must be AIAA student members. Any student may attend the Regional Student Conference but may be subjected to a higher registration fee if they are not AIAA members. Please click here for more information to join as an AIAA Student Member.
You must be attending a high school/college/university in Region II to participate in the Region II Student Conference.
Region II includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Additionally, it includes students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Cash prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place winners for each category.
Refer to the Student Conferences webpage for conference rules and FAQs.