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Mary Jackson Lecture: A Wandering Fluid Mechanics Scientific Career

On-Demand Recording Available

In this seminar, Ivett Leyva, Ph.D., P.E. will describe her remarkable career journey, which has led her to study various fluid mechanics problems, as well as the challenges and rewards of holding management and leadership positions. She will discuss topics related to preventing rocket explosions, including the construction of hazardous facilities for testing rocket propulsion and enhancing the scientific understanding of hypersonic flight. Leyva will also share insights from two hypersonic flight experiments she initiated at the Air Force, along with the portfolio she managed. Finally, she will conclude with her experiences as department head and her current efforts to establish a new research enterprise aimed at addressing applied research challenges from industry while tailoring graduates to meet industry needs.

The Mary Jackson Named Lecture is given in honor of Mary Jackson (1921–2005), who became the first black female aerospace engineer at NASA in 1958. The lecture is jointly sponsored by the Royal Aeronautical Society and AIAA.

Speaker:

Ivett A. Leyva, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Dean for Research, Fort Worth Campus, College of Engineering. Arthur McFarland Professor, Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M Fort Worth

East Coast Space Settlement Design Competition

2026 East Coast Space Settlement Design Competition High School students join 25-person teams that function as mock aerospace companies. Guided by mentors from the space industry, each team responds to a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) by developing and presenting a comprehensive 30-minute design proposal to a panel of judges with real-world engineering experience. The top-scoring team earns the opportunity to advance to the International Finals held at the Disney & the Kennedy Space Center, where they’ll compete with winners from around the globe. Last year the East Coast Students were on the winning international team!

High School Freshmen – Senior: Bring your pen, notebook, Chromebook and charger.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Check-In Breakfast: 7:15 – 8:00 a.m. ET
Closing Ceremony: 8:30 – 9:00 p.m. ET

Registration Fee:

$20
Scholarships are available

Learn More and RSVP

Hosted by

Engineer’s Week: Networking Event

Indiana Section Joint Societies (SAE, AIAA, IEEE Central Indiana & Women in Engineering) Annual Engineers’ Week Networking Dinner

For Engineer’s Week, AIAA, IEEE, and SAE are coming together for a meet and greet networking event at Centerpoint Brewery!

Cost:

Member of SAE, AIAA, or IEEE: $10
Non-Member: $15
Students: FREE

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AIAA Carolina Aerospace Symposium

Showcasing the accomplishments and progress of aerospace engineering in the states North and South Carolina. Open to professionals, educators, students and retirees with an interest in aerospace.

Learn More and Register Now

2026 AIAA Fellows Induction Ceremony and Dinner

All AIAA Fellows and Honorary Fellows are cordially invited to the 2026 AIAA Fellows Induction Ceremony and Dinner

Monday, 18 May 2026
Reception: 6–7 p.m.
Dinner: 7:15–10 p.m.

“Congratulations to each member of the Class of 2026 AIAA Honorary Fellows and Fellows for their remarkable accomplishments. They are among the most respected names in the aerospace profession,” said Dan Hastings, AIAA President. “These distinguished individuals have earned the respect and admiration of the global science and engineering community. We are in awe of their creativity and exceptional contributions that have advanced aerospace.”

Please help us celebrate the Class of 2026 AIAA Honorary Fellows and Fellows.

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.

21st Annual AIAA Southern California Aerospace Systems and Technology (ASAT) Conference

Registration Not Yet Open Learn More

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.

Event Theme

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.

Dates to Remember

Friday, February 6th, 2026 – Intent-to-Present Deadline
Friday, February 13th, 2026 – Notification of Acceptance for Presentation
Monday March 16th, 2026 – Registration Opens
Saturday, April 11th, 2026 – Electronic Copy of Presentations Due
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 – Registration Deadline
Saturday, April 25th, 2026 – ASAT Conference

STEM Knight

STEM Knight brings students, families, and community partners together for an evening of exploration and discovery! Volunteering deadline due 11/12th to [email protected].

There will be:

Paper Airplane Competition
Biplane Crafting
Sharing Aerospace History

RSVP/Register

2026 American Rocketry Challenge National Finals

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.

Learn More

AIAA Indiana Heritage Trust Tour

Over 25 aircraft engines and large scale models of aircraft are on display – representing 100 years of technology. Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust is providing a tour to AIAA-Indiana of this historic collection of aerospace artifacts. Parking Available but carpool recommended.

RSVP or Register

27th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference

The 27^th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, jointly organized with the Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (A.I.D.A.A), will provide a forum for discussion and exchange of information for attendees from across the globe about leading-edge research and development activities associated with space planes and hypersonic atmospheric flight vehicles and the technologies underpinning these capabilities. Presentations will be provided on national programs from Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Asia and multiple opportunities for international collaboration will be discussed. Technical paper topics include planned and ongoing space plane and hypersonic vehicle programs, advanced launch vehicle and hypersonic atmospheric flight vehicle concepts, commercial space tourism concepts, ground and flight testing techniques, results, and lessons learned, reentry vehicle systems and technologies, aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics of space planes and hypersonic vehicles, guidance and control systems, rocket, ramjet, scramjet, and other advanced propulsion systems, including component technologies (e.g., inlets, combustion systems, fuel injection concepts, ignition and flameholding concepts, nozzles), high-temperature materials, hot structures and thermal protection systems, health monitoring and management technologies, and more. Special panel sessions will be organized around relevant topics of strong global interest.

Technical Committee Representative

Peter Montgomery
Amentum
AFRL Rocket Lab
Edwards Air Force Base, California
[email protected]

Technical Topics

1. Missions and Vehicles addressing:

Mission planning and real-time adaptation and optimization
Planned and ongoing space plane and hypersonic vehicle programs and approaches
Advanced launch vehicles and hypersonic atmospheric flight vehicles
Reentry vehicle systems and technologies
Overall vehicle system performance and optimization
Conceptual designs

2. Operational Systems Aspects addressing:

Mission planning and real-time adaptation and optimization
Benefits and practicality of hypersonic civil transport
Economic and market analysis
Environmental effects including chemical pollution, noise, and sonic boom
Regulatory, certification, operational, health and safety issues

3. Thermal Management Systems for Vehicles and all Subsystems addressing:

Advanced thermal management concepts
System and component performance, dynamics and active or passive control
Trajectory adjustment and optimization
System and component development and manufacturing
Thermal protection systems, coatings and ablative systems
Thermal protection of non-operating propulsion systems (cocooning)

4. Propulsion Systems including and addressing:

Advanced thermal management concepts
System and component performance, dynamics and active or passive control
Trajectory adjustment and optimization
System and component development and manufacturing
Thermal protection systems, coatings and ablative systems
Thermal protection of non-operating propulsion systems (cocooning)

5. Propulsion Components addressing:

Compression components including forebodies, intakes, and compressors
Air cooling/collection devices
Injectors, combustors, isolators, nozzles and afterbodies
Propellant supply systems
Performance enhancement concepts, e.g. plasma assisted techniques and advanced nozzles
Component performance, dynamics and control
Component development and manufacturing
Conventional and alternative fuels, additives, catalysis

6. Guidance, Navigation, and Control Systems addressing:

Flight mechanics, guidance and control systems for vehicles, subsystems, and payloads
Routing, navigation, trajectory optimization, and operations research
Health monitoring sensors, actuators, controllers and algorithms
ystem and component performance, dynamics and control

7. Aerodynamics and Flight Dynamics Systems addressing:

Vehicle control and maneuverability
Flight stability and dynamics
Aerodynamic force and moment databases
Drag predictions

8. Materials and Structures for Vehicles and all Subsystems addressing:

Basic materials science and properties
Metallic and composite materials for hot and cooled structures
Thermal protection systems
Active/functional materials
Quality control, damage tolerance, structural health monitoring, and survivability
Materials manufacturing and processing

9. Experimental Methods addressing:

Test and evaluation
Ground test facilities, flight test operations, and comparison to simulations
Diagnostics and data systems
Scale limitations and facility effects
Test methodology, validation and verification

10. Computational Methods addressing:

Advanced computational techniques, FVM, FEM, Cartesian, Overset
Thermo-chemically reacting flows
Rarefied flows, DSMC methods
All-speed regimes codes
Turbulence modeling, RANS, DES, LES, etc.
Wall catalysis and ablation
Magneto-hydrodynamic effects
Radiation cooling effects
Fluid/structure interaction
Weather and particulate effects
CFD mesh control methods for structured and unstructured grids
Hypersonic vehicles design optimization
Code validation and verification
Facility modeling and simulation

11. Emerging Disciplines in Hypersonics

Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in hypersonics
Interdisciplinary advancements focused on addressing the unique challenges associated with hypersonic flight
Weather effects

12. Hypersonics History addressing:

Historical aspects, analyses, assessments
Historical reviews
Lessons learned from previous hypersonic efforts
New analysis of old historical data

The Hypersonic Technologies and Aerospace Planes (HyTASP) Technical Committee invites students to participate in the HyTASP Student Paper Competition at the 27th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference. Eligible papers will be judged by members of the HyTASP Honors & Awards Subcommittee for the “Don Wilson Best Student Paper” award.

Call for Papers

Manage Submissions

Abstract Submission Open: 7 October 2025
Abstract Deadline: 4 December 2025, 2000 hrs ET USA
Author Notifications: 23 February 2026
Manuscript Deadline: 2 June 2026, 2000 hrs ET USA

Organizing Committee

Chair
Peter Montgomery, Amentum, AFRL Rocket Lab

Local Chair
Erasmo Carrera, AIDAA

Event Managers
Christopher Horton, AIAA
Marco Petrolo, AIDAA

AIDAA Technical Committee
Raffaele Savino, Chair, Università di Napoli Federico II
Marta Albano, ASI
Gianpiero Colonna, CNR
Domenic D’Ambrosio, Politecnico di Torino
Sergio De Rosa, Università di Napoli Federico II
Nunzia Favaloro, CIRA
Giulio Gori, Politecnico di Milano
Vincenzo Gulizzi, Università di Palermo
Antonella Ingenito, Università di Roma La Sapienza
Stefano Mungiguerra, Università di Napoli Federico II
Renato Paciorri, Università di Roma La Sapienza
Alfonso Pagani, Politecnico di Torino
Giuseppe Pascazio, Politecnico di Bari
Fabrizio Ponti, Università di Bologna
Enrico Zappino, Politecnico di Torino4