AIAA News

By Steve Sidorek, AIAA Public Policy Director This year’s California Aerospace Week, held 23–24 March in Sacramento, was co-hosted by AIAA and the Aerospace States Association, California Chapter. Elections in November 2014 brought a new wave of legislators to Sacramento and also triggered the formation of two new select committees on aerospace. These developments created an

“The AIAA community is excited about the upcoming one year mission to the ISS and look forward to following the adventures of Scott and Mikhail as they expand the boundaries of human knowledge and experience,” said Sandra Magnus, AIAA executive director and former astronaut. “Step by step we continue to move closer to extending the

by Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008–2017) Purdue University has created the Center for Integrated Thermal Management of Aerospace Vehicles (CITMAV). The consortium is comprised of The Boeing Company, Rolls-Royce Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., and Lockheed Martin Corporation, along with academic partners from the University of Illinois, Wright State University, the University of Dayton, and the

by Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008–2017) From 10 April through 27 April, 193 teams from 44 countries will launch high altitude balloons as they take part in the Global Space Balloon Challenge. Each team will be vying to have their balloon soar the highest, take the best pictures of Earth, have the best on-board science

AIAA is pleased to announce its support for the Humans to Mars Summit (H2M), 5-7 May 2015, at George Washington University in Washington, DC.  As a member of AIAA, you will receive a special discount code to attend this important conference.  To learn more about H2M, and to register, please visit the H2M website at

AIAA SciTech 2015 Plenary Program Set George Whitesides, CEO, Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company, will share his thoughts and experiences on entrepreneurial aerospace; James N. Miller, President of Adaptive Strategies, LLC and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, will address international sales, cooperation, export control, and more; Richard Christiansen, Vice President, Sierra Lobo, Inc.,

by Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008-2017) Satya N. Atluri, AIAA Fellow, and distinguished professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the Henry Samueli School Engineering, and director of the Center for Aerospace Research and Education at the University of California – Irvine, has been selected to receive the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ (AIAA)

by Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008-2017) Pumpkins can fly! Who Knew? The members of Team AIAA Greater Huntsville, that’s who. Composed of intrepid aerospace professionals from AIAA’s Greater Huntsville Section, the team took to the fields of Tate Farms in Meridianville, Alabama, to represent the section, and AIAA, in the farm’s “Pumpkin Blast 2014” competition,

By Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2007-2018) On Tuesday, 30 September, the legacy – both personal and technical – of Yvonne C. Brill, AIAA Honorary Fellow, pioneer of satellite propulsion technology, inventor of the Hydrazine Resistojet, and champion of female engineers the world over, was honored by numerous speakers taking part in the opening segment of

By Duane Hyland, AAIA Communications (2008-2017) On Tuesday, 30 September, Adam Steltzner, Research and Design Engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, delivered the inaugural Yvonne C. Brill Lecture to a standing-room-only crowd in the lecture hall of the National Academy of Engineering in Washington, DC. Established by AIAA and the National Academy of

By Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008-2017) The frequent complaints given in classrooms across our nation for a lack of interest in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics is “they’re boring.” “They’re boring” is soon followed by “and complicated.” VSI Aerospace hopes that its brand new creation, the DAVinCI Flight Game will change all of that. “DAVinCI

By Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008-2017) Recently, I sat down with George Lesieutre, Professor and Head of the Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Aerospace Engineering, and General Chair of the AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (AIAA SciTech 2015) to discuss the upcoming event that takes place 5–9 January 2015, at the Gaylord Palms

MARRIOTT WAIKOLOA SOUTH KOHALA – ISLAND OF HAWAII 9–13 November 2014 Early Bird Deadline: 10 October 2015 The State of Hawaii will be hosting a multinational conference on the Big Island of Hawaii to explore options for developing sustainable pathways to space, with an emphasis on leveraging our Moon’s strategic assets (e.g., near-Earth location, diverse

In Memoriam: Steven Nagel, AIAA Associate Fellow By Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008-2017) Former astronaut and professor of mechanical engineering Steven Nagel passed away on 21 August. He was 67. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Nagel received a commission in the United States Air Force through the universities Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

by Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor One of the primary missions of the Institute is to support and help foster the next generation of leaders who will shape the aerospace industry, as well as the future of their organizations, for decades to come. For this reason the Institute recognizes and celebrates four extraordinary AIAA young professionals

Tuesday, August 19th, the anniversary of the birth of Orville Wright, is National Aviation Day. The day honors all who work in aviation and aerospace, and commemorates the sacrifices of the early aviation pioneers who first dared to prove that powered flight was possible. “Aviation has transformed our world – from bringing people closer together,

In an effort to share the highlights of our Forums with the public, and to increase the Institute’s visibility via social media, AIAA sponsored Twitter contests at both our Propulsion and Energy Forum in Cleveland, and at the SPACE 2014 Forum in San Diego, this past July and August, respectively. Anyone attending the conference who

Five AIAA student members have been named Tau Beta Pi scholars. The awards, given by the national engineering honorary fraternity, recognize the recipients’ “high scholarship, campus leadership and service, and promise of future contributions to the engineering profession.” The AIAA Student Members who received the awards are: Craig C. Babiarz, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,

by Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008-2017) Tau Beta Pi (TBΠ) national engineering honorary fraternity has named Asad M. Madni, a Distinguished Alumni. Madni, an AIAA Lifetime Fellow, is Executive Managing Director and Chief Technical Officer at Crocker Capital; Corporate Director and “Distinguished Professor” at TCI College of Technology in New York, New York; and an

AIAA Communications The national engineering honorary fraternity, Tau Beta Pi (TBΠ), recently installed AIAA Student Member John P. Mayo of College Station, Texas, as a Fife Fellow. Mayo, graduated from Texas A&M University in May, and now attends the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where is pursuing a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with an area

On July 20, the world will pause to celebrate the 45th anniversary of man’s first landing on the moon, rightfully saluting Neil Armstrong (AIAA Honorary Fellow); Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (AIAA Fellow); and Michael Collins (AIAA Fellow), hailing them for their bravery and courage in twice traversing the wine-dark sea of space to successfully complete the

By Ben Iannotta, Aerospace America editor-in-chief In a world of few easy solutions, a senior official from the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization said there’s a straightforward answer to the question of how to track aircraft as they cross the world’s oceans. Most airliners – including the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 that disappeared in March – are

This summer, let AIAA Continuing Education courses pave the way to your continuing and future success! Co-located with the AIAA SPACE Forum: Decision Analysis, 3–4 August 2014, This course will be of interest to engineers, program/project managers, software engineers, Information Technology Specialist, educators and other professionals that need to learn how to make accurate decisions.

The 2014–2015 AIAA Nominating Committee will meet in August 2014 to review nominees and select candidates to participate in the 2015 Board of Directors election to fill the following vacancies: President-Elect (1-year term followed by 2 years as President) Vice President-Elect, Education (1-year term followed by 3 years as Vice President, Education) Vice President-Elect, Public

Honored for Over 50 Years of Outstanding Contributions to America’s Manned Space Program Glynn S. Lunney, AIAA Fellow, and vice president and program manager, United Space Alliance (retired), Houston, Texas, has won the AIAA 2014 Goddard Astronautics Award. Lunney will receive the award on 30 April, during the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala at the

In addition to the AIAA 2014 Reed Aeronautics Award and the AIAA 2014 Goddard Astronautics Award, the 2014 AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala, taking place 30 April at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, will also confer the following honors: Dr. Michael I. Yarymovych to Receive AIAA 2014 Distinguished Service Award Honored for

Members Advocate for Aerospace The 17th annual Congressional Visits Day program took place on 12 March, drawing 119 AIAA members from 34 sections, representing 21 states and the District of Columbia, to Washington DC, to meet with their Congressional decision makers to discuss matters of vital importance to America’s aerospace community. Team MidAtlantic with staff

The 2014 AIAA regional student conferences kicked off in March with the Region VI Student Paper Conference. This conference was hosted by the California State University – Sacramento, 1-2 March. There were twenty-three presentations and eighty-eight attendees at the conference. RJ Wichert and Evangelina Dubinetsky were the primary organizers of the conference and both serve

The AIAA Solar Cells and Solar Panels Committee on Standards has revised the standard Qualification and Quality Requirements for Space Solar Cells and it is now available for public review and comment. The original standard was published in 2005. Key revisions include the option of using displacement damage dose methodology to define radiation effects, qualification

17 March 2014 By: Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008-2017) To better serve our members and to enhance the value of our new forum lineup, AIAA recently debuted its new forum website for the AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum (AVIATION), occurring 16–20 June 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. Gone are the days when AIAA event websites revolved

Mary Kate Smith — AIAA Student Member Senior in Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University Contestant on TBS’s “King of the Nerds,” Season 2 Interview conducted by AIAA Communications AIAA: How did you find yourself applying to be on King of the Nerds (KOTN)? Mary Kate (MK): It’s a really funny story actually. I was familiar

Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L), issued a 20 February memo discussing the DoD participation in technical and industry conferences. In his memo, addressed to the Research and Development and Science and Technology departments of the DoD, he highlights that science and technology conferences and symposia are crucial for

AIAA Executive Director Sandra Magnus testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology today at 10:00 a.m. EST, as part of the Committee’s hearing on “Mars Flyby 2012: The First Deep Space Mission for the Orion and Space Launch System?” Magnus’ statement is available at Testimony and Speeches.

Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia “The variety of information presented, from the higher-level plenaries down through the technical sessions; there was something for everyone.” – AVIATION 2013 attendee Aviation’s Global Promise – Challenges & Opportunities Aviation is an essential component of the U.S. and global economy and of our national security. The foundations of aviation

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, DC. AIAA ignites and celebrates ingenuity and collaboration and ensures aerospace professionals are recognized for their contributions to making the world safer, more connected, more prosperous—from the major missions that reinvent our national uses of air and space, to the inventive new applications that enhance everyday living.

Kingsmill, Williamsburg, Virginia, 5 June 2014 Since 1989, this symposium has provided a forum for executive discussions on how the aerospace industry is progressing from both government and corporate perspectives. This event, with anticipated attendance of approximately 100 aerospace executives, and no media, will allow for information exchange between aerospace executives in a casual atmosphere.

Membership Advancements Fellow candidates are those individuals of distinction in aeronautics or astronautics who have made notable valuable contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics. Honorary Fellow candidates are those Individuals of eminence in aeronautics or astronautics distinguished by long and highly contributive careers in the arts, sciences, or technology of

Cast Your Ballot by 24 March! The 2014 AIAA Board of Directors Election is now open. As a voting member, you can help determine AIAA’s future direction. An outstanding slate of candidates has been nominated. We urge you to learn about each candidate and then vote for those you consider the best qualified. The complete

AIAA invites you to nominate candidates for the Walter J. and Angeline H. Crichlow Trust Prize. The Prize is presented by AIAA every four years for excellence in aerospace materials, structural design, structural analysis, or structural dynamics for a specific achievement or body of work (perhaps extending over a period of year) that became significant

Taking Place 13-17 January in National Harbor, Maryland AIAA is live streaming sessions from the AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (SciTech2014). Live streaming kicks off today, 13 January, at 8:30 a.m. EST, with the Plenary Panel: R&D Policy Implications & Investments, featuring Robert Braun (Moderator), David and Andrew Lewis Professor of Space Technology,

The 2014 AIAA Congressional Visits Day program will be held 12 March in Washington, D.C. Attendees will have the chance to engage Congressional decision makers on many issues related to critical issues in civil aeronautics, civil astronautics, and defense. As always, our goal is to educate members of Congress, congressional staffers, key Administration officials, and

Video on AIAA’s Credo Watch this video that brings the credo to life! AIAA is celebrating you, the aerospace professional! We celebrate your unending thirst for knowledge, your tenacity in solving the seemingly unsolvable, and your steadfast commitment to using your skills and knowledge in an endless quest to learn more about the universe we inhabit,

Hearing Took Place at Mojave Air & Space Port 29 October 2013 On Tuesday, 29 October 2013, AIAA Executive Director Sandy Magnus and AIAA Commercial Space Group Chair Bruce Pittman testified before the California Senate Select Committee on Defense and Aerospace. The hearing was held at Mojave Air & Space Port in California. Dr. Magnus briefed the

Over the past decade, the AIAA Digital Avionics Technical Committee (DATC) has embraced the AIAA Scholarship Program. The committee has funded four endowed undergraduate scholarships and named them after people within the DATC who have contributed significantly to their field, and have provided meaningful outreach. They are: The Dr. Amy Pritchett Digital Avionics Scholarship The Ellis Hitt Digital Avionics Scholarship

by: Rayon Williams, Student Branch Chair, NJIT, and Dr. Edward Dreizin, Chapter Advisor, NJIT AIAA NJIT Graduate Chapter, in conjunction with Northern New Jersey Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, hosted a two-day glider building event and competition at NJIT. This was the first event ever of this kind held on NJIT

Lt Gen Larry D. James, William H. Gerstenmaier, Roger Krone, and Other High-Level Leaders Featured By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor AIAA President Michael D. Griffin addresses SPACE 2013 attendees Leaders from government, industry, and academia gathered at the 2013 AIAA SPACE Conference & Exposition 10–12 September in San Diego, CA, for a very productive and

By Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications (2008-2017) AIAA President-Elect, James “Jim” Albaugh gave the first keynote address of AIAA’s AVIATION 2013 on the afternoon of Monday, 12 August, delivering a clarion call for continued innovation, resolve and dedication throughout the aerospace industry. Albaugh began his address by reminding the audience that “the job of engineers is to make

By Duane Hyland, AIAA Communication (2008-2017) Cybersecurity expert Richard A. Clarke delivered a keynote address on the afternoon of Tuesday, 13 August as part of AIAA’s AVIATION 2013 Conference, which took place 12–14 August in Los Angeles, CA. Clarke, chairman and CEO, Good Harbor Security Risk Management LLC, and former U.S. national coordinator for security,

The Honorable Charles A. Bolden, Jim Albaugh, Richard A. Clarke, Richard Aboulafia, and Other High-Level Industry Leaders Highlight the Event By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor Top leaders from government, industry, and academia gathered at the AIAA AVIATION 2013 Conference 12–14 August in Los Angeles, California for a very successful and well received event.  The Institute

Complex Aerospace Systems Exchange (CASE) tackles some of the most important system development issues facing aerospace chief engineers, program managers, and systems engineers today, such as minimizing cost overruns and delays, and mitigating late test failures. The Exchange begins with a Brainstorming Primer on 12 August. Opening Plenary The opening session, moderated by Dr. Wilson Felder, will