Tag: AIAA News

April-June 2026 Issue of Aerospace America Now Live

FROM THE INSTITUTE
The April-June 2026 issue of Aerospace America is now live. Don’t miss the cover story, “The New Space Race” by Leonard David and Aerospace America Associate Editor Cat Hofacker. The U.S. is once again trying to beat another nation to landing astronauts on the moon, and NASA officials and U.S. lawmakers say the stakes are even higher than they were in the 1960s. David and Hofacker explore the implications of this 21st century space race.

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To read this story and all other exclusive content, log in to the Aerospace America website.

ASCEND 2026 Will Showcase the Space Industry’s Most Influential Voices

FROM THE INSTITUTE
More than 200 luminaries from across the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, adjacent industries, and the next-generation workforce will take the ASCEND stage, 19–21 May, in Washington, D.C. They will address the most important opportunities and mission-critical challenges at this pivotal time for the space community. Registration for ASCEND 2026 is open now, with early-bird rates available until 20 April.
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ASCEND 2026 Assembles Space Industry’s Most Influential Voices in Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA announced today a powerful lineup of speakers who will take the stage at ASCEND 2026, 19–21 May, Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C. The event will address the most important opportunities and mission-critical challenges at this pivotal time for the space community.

“We are proud to bring the global space community to experience ASCEND in Washington, D.C. Eight leading organizations from across the industry are joining the ASCEND team this year and strengthening our content to deliver a must-attend event,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry.

“This year’s program is timely and transformative, as the space community looks to accelerate exploration and science. ASCEND 2026 will showcase the leading voices from space commerce, security, and policy to build our off-world future. It will be the most comprehensive gathering of space professionals in the nation’s capital in 2026 with 2,000 participants expected,” Mowry added.

Powered by AIAA, ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future. Lockheed Martin is the Founding Sponsor of ASCEND. Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is the Premier Event Partner. Event partners include: BryceTech, ISS National Laboratory, National Air and Space Museum, Novaspace, Space Force Association (SFA), Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), and The Aerospace Corporation.

Over 200 industry luminaries from across the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, adjacent industries, and the next-generation workforce are featured as speakers. Confirmed speakers include:

  • Erik Antonsen, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School
  • The Honorable Brian Babin (TX-36), Chair, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
  • Olga Bannova, Research Professor, University of Houston
  • David Baumann, Director, Human Research Program, NASA
  • Harriet Brettle, Executive Director, Keck Institute for Space Studies
  • Will Bruey, CEO, Varda
  • Tory Bruno, President, Blue National Security, Blue Origin
  • A.C. Charania, Senior Vice President of Space Business Development, Zeno Power
  • Anne Cheever, Founder, Vela Scientific
  • Carissa Christensen, Founder and CEO, BryceTech
  • Jonathan Cirtain, CEO & President, Axiom Space
  • John Conafay, CEO, Integrate Space
  • Katie Cranor, Executive Director, Office of Operational Safety, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, FAA
  • Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Director, Astrophysics Division, NASA
  • Jonny Dyer, CEO, Muon Space
  • Shirley Dyke, Donald A. and Patricia A. Coates Professor of Innovation in Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
  • Debra Facktor, Head of US Space Systems, Airbus US Space & Defense
  • David Goldstein, Principal Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer, SpaceX
  • James “Jim” Green, CEO, Space Science Endeavors
  • Dana “Keoki” Jackson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, MITRE National Security, and AIAA President-Elect
  • Taylor Jordan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, NOAA
  • Mike Kincaid, President & Executive Director, Challenger Center
  • Josef Koller, Head of Space Safety and Sustainability, Amazon Leo
  • Joe Landon, Co-Founder & President, Rendezvous Robotics
  • Kris Lehnhardt, M.D., Director, Space Medicine Program, UTHealth Houston
  • Dana Levin, Director of Space Medicine and Human Research, Vast Inc.
  • Janna Lewis, Senior Vice President, Policy & General Counsel, Astroscale US
  • Robert Lightfoot, President, Lockheed Martin Space
  • Laura Lucier, Chief, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, NASA
  • Ray Lugo, CEO, ISS National Laboratory
  • Sandra Magnus, Principal, AstroPlanetview LLC
  • Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director, Spaceport America
  • Kristen McQuinn, Mission Head, Roman Space Telescope, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
  • Rob Meyerson, CEO, Interlune
  • Mike Moses, President, Spaceline, Virgin Galactic
  • Clay Mowry, CEO, AIAA
  • Michelle Murray, Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Management, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, FAA
  • Clive Neal, Professor of Planetary Geology, University of Notre Dame
  • Charles Norton, Chief Technology Strategist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • Michael Roberts, Chief Scientist, ISS National Laboratory
  • Ryan Shepperd, Lead SSA Engineer, Iridium
  • Erika Wagner, Lead, US Business Development, The Exploration Company-US
  • Matthew Weinzierl, Professor & Senior Associate Dean, Harvard Business School
Dynamic Sessions Featured All Week
  • Deep technical content scheduled. AIAA events are well known for the depth of technical content presented, with over 200 technical presentations and collaborative sessions at ASCEND. ISS National Laboratory will bring even more technical presentations from its microgravity community that has been conducting research onboard the orbiting lab.
  • CSF will host its two-day Commercial Space Policy Summit (CSPS), 19–20 May. From launch cadence and regulatory reform to lunar and orbital infrastructure, national security, and the future of commercial space stations, this year’s Summit will tackle the most pressing issues shaping the space economy. Registration for CSPS includes access to ASCEND.
  • The Aerospace Corporation will host a Classified Day at the TS/SCI level on 18 May at its Chantilly, Virginia, office, with additional registration required. Additionally, they will host the Space Transformation Track on 21 May, comprising sessions designed to accelerate the space industrial base and progress in national priority areas for space.
  • BryceTech will host its inaugural Start-up Space Pitch Competition. Start-ups from across space and space-adjacent industries (series A or earlier) can apply. Finalists will pitch start-up space experts during ASCEND 2026. One winner will receive a Start-up Space Advisory Package from BryceTech, a one-year AIAA Corporate Membership, and more. Applications are open through 19 April.
  • The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will host a three-session deep dive into preserving the ISS National Laboratory as we prepare for its end of mission. Why save ISS heritage? What should be saved from the ISS? How will we recover items from ISS?
  • SGAC will host its SGx 2026 event, 17–18 May, focused on cultivating the next generation of space leaders with “lightning talks” followed by moderated Q&A panels that tackle pressing issues and innovative ideas to inspire the next generation of space leaders. Additional registration required through SGAC.
Early-Bird Registration Rates Available

Registration for ASCEND 2026 is open now, with early-bird rates available until 20 April. Journalists should request a Press Pass online.

Since 2020, ASCEND has promoted the collaborative, interdisciplinary, outcomes-driven community of professionals, students, and enthusiasts around the world who are accelerating humanity’s progress toward our off-world future.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

2026 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics on Learning and Controlling Autonomous Space Systems to be Presented by Maruthi Akella from University of Texas at Austin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA is pleased to announce the 2026 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics is awarded to Maruthi Akella, Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas (UT) Austin, where he holds the Cockrell Family Endowed Chair in Engineering.

The lecture, “Opinion Dynamics, Learning, Trust, and Control of Autonomous Space Systems,” will be presented Wednesday, 20 May, at 12:15 p.m. ET, during ASCEND 2026, 19–21 May, Washington, D.C. The lecture will be delivered in person, as well as recorded. Registration for 2026 ASCEND is open now. Journalists can request a Press Pass online.

Autonomous space systems face significant challenges when operating under uncertainty, especially near other vehicles that may not cooperate. In applications like In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM), these systems must quickly learn, adapt, and make smart decisions in complex, unpredictable environments.

This lecture will showcase a framework for multithread learning designed to maintain spacecraft performance despite high uncertainty and fast variations. The approach builds on recently developed learning structures and trust metrics. During his lecture, Akella will illustrate the framework through ISAM examples in spacecraft guidance and proximity operations.

Akella’s research contributions have found several highly successful applications in astrodynamics and in the control of space systems and vision-guided robotics. His research group contributed to the onboard guidance algorithm for the Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission – the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years since the Apollo era.

Akella has published more than 260 research papers in peer-reviewed archival journals and conference proceedings. The major impacts of his work have been recognized through the AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award, the AAS Dirk Brouwer Award, the IEEE-CSS Award for Excellence in Aerospace Control, and the Judith Resnik Space Award from the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society.

In October 2024, the International Astronomical Union designated asteroid number 5376 – a nearly five-mile diameter-sized minor planet from the main asteroid belt as “Maruthiakella,” honoring Akella’s contributions to “many successful applications in astrodynamics.”

Akella is a Fellow of AIAA, IEEE, and AAS and holds the Academician rank with the International Academy of Astronautics. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences.

Named in honor of Theodore von Kármán, a world-famous authority on aerospace sciences, this lectureship honors an individual who has performed notably and distinguished themselves technically in the field of astronautics.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

2026 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce Presented by Blue Origin’s Tory Bruno During ASCEND 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA is pleased to announce the 2026 AIAA David W. Thompson Lectureship in Space Commerce is awarded to Tory Bruno, President, Blue National Security, Blue Origin, and former president and CEO, United Launch Alliance (ULA).

Bruno’s lecture, “Transforming ULA: Shaping the Future of Space Launch,” will be presented Tuesday, 19 May, 12:15 p.m. ET, during ASCEND 2026, 19–21 May, Washington, D.C. The lecture will be delivered in person, as well as recorded and available on demand. Registration for ASCEND 2026 is open now. Journalists can request a Press Pass online.

Bruno’s lecture will address his leadership tenure at ULA which began in 2014, a pivotal time when the industry was on the precipice of a new competitive launch market. He implemented a business strategy to completely transform ULA to compete in a global commercial environment, while continuing to launch ULA’s customers’ critical missions with 100% mission success. Under Bruno’s leadership, ULA also began developing a new next-generation rocket, purpose-built to maintain the accurate delivery of the U.S. government’s most complex missions. As a testament to the company’s corporate change, ULA recently received the largest commercial rocket purchase in history.

Bruno is an expert in several rocketry and hypersonic technologies and holds multiple related patents. He is a tireless advocate for the industry, sharing his passion for space technology and his vision of a self-sustaining human presence beyond Earth. He joined Blue Origin in January 2026, overseeing the development of cutting-edge products, services, and technologies to enhance national security missions.

Bruno is an AIAA Honorary Fellow. He also is a former member of the Defense Innovation Board Space Advisory Committee and the National Academy of Engineering. Bruno has served on the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group and as an advisor to the Vice President of the United States on space policy, regulation, and technology. He also has received the Von Braun Trophy, the von Karman Medal, a member of the Space and Satellite Professionals Hall of Fame, and a member of the San Diego Air & Space Museum International Hall of Fame.

The David W. Thompson Lectureship in Space Commerce recognizes a prominent industry leader or senior management team who has created or grown a space-related business and generated substantial economic benefits and market value. It was endowed by Orbital ATK to commemorate the long and distinguished career of commercial space pioneer, David W. Thompson.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

Reimagining America’s R&D Framework: Valuing Our Laboratories and Testing Facilities as National Treasures

FROM THE INSTITUTE
The leadership of the U.S. aerospace and defense sectors relies not solely on strategic documents but also on the tangible environments where concepts are validated, calibrated, qualified, stress-tested, and made repeatable. These include laboratories, wind tunnels, anechoic chambers, propulsion test stands, materials testing facilities, space-environment simulators, spectrum testbeds, and instrumentation-rich ranges that transform prototypes into operational systems. When this layer deteriorates, the consequences are predictable: extended timelines, increased rework, fewer testing repetitions, elevated safety risks, decreased throughput, and a growing divide between theoretical capabilities and actual performance in the field.

Nominations Open for Member Advancement

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Do you know an AIAA member who has made outstanding contributions to the aerospace industry? Help us shine a spotlight on their stellar leadership and contributions by nominating them for member advancement, and elevate them to an elite class of AIAA members. Full nomination criteria can be found on the AIAA Honors homepage.

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AIAA Celebrates the eIPP Awards and AAM Progress

FROM THE INSTITUTE
The eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) awardees, announced on 9 March, mark an incredible example of coalition building for the future of aerospace. AIAA wants to mark this occasion by noting how the technology fueling AAM has developed in recent years. The Institute supports the community in many ways as they explore how best to implement AAM operations and connecting multimodal transportation to novel aircraft use cases.

Three Outstanding Teachers Honored with 2026 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington and Reston, Va. (March 23, 2026) – Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announce Laurie Hamzik, Kenji Nomura, and Lillian Reynolds as the winners of the 2026 Trailblazing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educator Award. Each teacher and their respective schools will be awarded $5,000. Additionally, each teacher will receive free access to up to $3,000 in Challenger Center STEM programming and a trip to NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, provided by Blue Origin’s Club for the Future.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the launch of the Trailblazing STEM Educator Award. AIAA and Challenger Center launched this prestigious award to celebrate K-12 educators who go above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Each year, nominations for this award from across the country demonstrate the incredible creative efforts teachers make every day to empower students in STEM, both in and out of the classroom.

The three recipients of the 2026 award are:

Laurie Hamzik
Middle school science teacher at Saint Ambrose Catholic School (Brunswick, Ohio)
For over 35 years, Laurie Hamzik has helped students gain STEM experience beyond the classroom. She helps her students participate in a variety of STEM events throughout the year, including St. Ambrose School science fairs, the Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair, Ohio State Science Days, and Young Astronaut Day. She regularly organizes tours of NASA Glenn Research Center, and provided insight on NASA’s “Sound Off Engineering Design Challenge” before the activity went nationwide in 2023. Hamzik has received the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Crystal Apple Award and the 2024 Ohio Academy of Science’s The Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for STEM Education and Student Research.

Kenji Nomura
STEM educator at Virginia Space Flight Academy (Wallops Island, Virginia)
Kenji Nomura is a STEM educator dedicated to expanding access to hands-on STEM learning and helping students see a future for themselves in the aerospace industry. With experience teaching math, astronomy, robotics, computer science, and engineering, Nomura engages students through project-based experiences that build curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving skills. An Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow supporting NASA Science Activation, Nomura creates makerspaces and engineering projects – from building data loggers to launching rockets and analyzing flight data – to help his students see themselves as explorers, innovators, and future STEM professionals.

Lillian Reynolds
Middle school STEM teacher at Voyager Public Charter School (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Lillian Reynolds connects STEM learning to real-world space exploration by building lessons around current events and research. Selected for NASA’s Astronomy Activation Ambassador program and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Teacher Innovator Institute, Reynolds brings cutting-edge space science into the classroom. Her students tackle projects grounded in real science – from rover and solar design to analyzing Mars landing sites – and participate in initiatives such as the International Astronomical Union’s Exoplanet Naming Campaign, Challenger Center missions, and NASA’s TechRise Challenge, helping them see themselves as capable problem-solvers and future innovators.

“Great STEM educators do more than teach concepts. They spark curiosity and help students see themselves as part of humanity’s future of discovery,” said Mike Kincaid, President and Executive Director of Challenger Center. “Laurie Hamzik, Kenji Nomura, and Lillian Reynolds each bring extraordinary creativity, dedication, and real-world relevance to their classrooms. Through hands-on learning and authentic connections to science and space exploration, they are inspiring students to ask big questions, solve complex problems, and imagine the role they can play in shaping the future. We are proud to celebrate their impact and partner with AIAA to recognize educators who are truly trailblazing in STEM education.”

“This year’s Trailblazing STEM Educator Award winners exemplify what it means to go above and beyond. They are breaking barriers to access, connecting students to real careers in aerospace, and giving young people the confidence to envision themselves as the scientists and engineers our industry needs,” said Clay Mowry, AIAA CEO. “AIAA is thrilled to partner with Challenger Center to put meaningful resources behind their remarkable work. These three educators are building the STEM-literate workforce that will power the next era of aerospace innovation, and we are honored to support them.”

The 2026 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award recognizes the achievements and commitment of these educators and highlights the important role our teachers play in preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. Through this partnership, Challenger Center and AIAA remain committed to supporting teachers who bring innovative STEM experiences to students and inspire young people across the country to pursue discovery, exploration, and problem-solving in the classroom and beyond.

Media Contacts
Julia Austin, Challenger Center, [email protected], 202-827-1575
Rebecca Gray, AIAA, [email protected], 804-397-5270

About Challenger Center
As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center provides hundreds of thousands of students annually with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51L. For more information about Challenger Center, please visit www.challenger.org or connect on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

About AIAA Foundation
The AIAA Foundation inspires and supports the next generation of aerospace professionals. From classroom to career, the AIAA Foundation enables innovative K-12 and university programming, including STEM classroom grants, scholarships, conferences, and hands-on competitions. Founded in 1996, the AIAA Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational organization connected to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Predicting Hypersonic Boundary-Layer Transition on Complex Geometries Virtual Collection Published

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Reliable prediction and control of boundary-layer transition are crucial to the design and safe operation of hypersonic vehicles, such as reusable launch and re-entry vehicles, missile interceptors, and missiles for time-critical strike. This virtual collection comprises experimental and numerical research on hypersonic laminar-turbulent transition among different research groups as part of a coordinated international effort.

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