FROM THE INSTITUTE
Twelve AIAA members are among the 130 newest members of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature” and to “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.”
Tag: AIAA News
AIAA Identifies Top Technologies Transforming Aerospace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Survey of 700+ Aerospace Experts Names Ten Technologies Shaping the Future
February 18, 2025 – Reston, Va. – Ten technologies will fundamentally reshape aerospace operations, manufacturing, and services over the next two decades according to a debut report released today by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world’s largest aerospace technical society.
The report, “Technologies Transforming Aerospace,” captures insights from AIAA’s global community of aerospace professionals, identifying the leading technologies disrupting the status quo in aviation and space.
The survey of more than 700 aerospace experts, combined with in-depth interviews of nearly two dozen senior technology leaders in industry, academia, and government, defined the top technologies that will shape aeronautics and space by 2045. AIAA partnered with BryceTech, an analytics and engineering firm, to conduct the survey and rank the technologies based on their impacts, feasibility, use cases, and potential barriers.
“Aerospace has reached a technological inflection point,” said Clay Mowry, AIAA CEO. “The technologies highlighted in this report will permeate the aerospace supply chain over the next 20 years, increasing efficiency, enabling mobility, and transforming exploration. The signal is clear: the next aerospace era is here, and AIAA’s engineering community is equipped to shape the future using advanced computing, materials, and propulsion technologies.”
Top 10 Technologies Transforming Aerospace
(in alphabetical order)
- AI-Aided Advanced Design and Engineering
- Alternative Aviation Fuels
- Electric Aircraft
- Fully Reusable Launch
- High-Temperature Materials
- Hypersonic Propulsion
- In-Space Manufacturing
- Pilotless Aircraft
- Quantum Computing and Sensing
- Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion
“What makes this forecast powerful is the scale of the signal,” said Carissa Christensen, CEO of BryceTech. “Based on the depth of the data, we’re seeing convergence across the aerospace community on the technologies that will define the next era. This roadmap is built on the collective expertise of the people who will make future innovations real.”
Technologies That Just Missed the Cut
The forecast also identified several technologies that narrowly missed the top 10 but remain significant areas of development: collaborative autonomous systems, direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications, functional materials with adaptive properties, large-scale additive manufacturing of aerospace structures, novel aerodynamic designs (including blended wing body and truss-braced wing aircraft), and on-orbit refueling systems.
The report is available for immediate download at aiaa.org/resources/technologies-transforming-aerospace-report/.
A webinar providing detailed insights is planned for Noon ET, Monday, 2 March. Registration is free.
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 over 33,000 members from 91 countries, and more than 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 Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
About BryceTech
BryceTech is an engineering and analytics firm serving government and commercial clients in complex technology domains. BryceTech is internationally recognized for its objective, evidence-based analytic and strategic support, as well as for its authoritative data sets characterizing the aerospace industry. BryceTech expertise includes modeling demand, forecasting space activity, technology scouting, and policy and economic analysis. For more information, visit brycetech.com.
Countdown to Goddard Centennial with New Model Rocket for Launches
From the Institute
To mark the 100th anniversary of Robert Goddard’s historic launch, a low-cost replica of his pioneering liquid fueled rocket gives schools and the public a powerful way to introduce the birth of modern rocketry. The anniversary represents a unique opportunity to inspire a new generation to follow in the footsteps of Goddard, who as a youngster began tinkering with kites, balloons, and eventually chemical compounds – all with the encouragement of his father, who bought him a telescope and a subscription to Scientific American.
AIAA Book Talks Launch with The Anatomy of Autonomy
FROM THE INSTITUTE
AIAA Book Talks highlights books and authors published by AIAA. The series provides a forum to introduce newly released titles, new editions, discuss key themes and contributions, and explore how these works support ongoing research, teaching and scholarship in aerospace science and engineering. The first online seminar will be held 11 March with the authors of The Anatomy of Autonomy.
AIAA SciTech Forum Student Paper Competitions
FROM THE INSTITUTE
AIAA Student Paper Competitions recognize outstanding student research presented at AIAA forums and events. The competitions give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to present original technical work, gain professional recognition, and receive feedback from their peers in industry and academia. We are pleased to announce the winners of the competitions held at AIAA SciTech Forum 2026.
My Daily Launch Will Not Publish 16 February
FROM THE INSTITUTE
In observance of Presidents’ Day, we will not publish on Monday, 16 February. Service will resume on Tuesday, 17 February.
Forget Cloud: Istari Unveils “Ground,” A New Data Sharing Infrastructure Tailored for Aerospace
The internet – convenient, data-centralized, and governed by a single “I agree” consent button – is fundamentally misaligned with the needs of aerospace, defense, and other sectors that guard valuable intellectual property and classified information. That’s the message from Will Roper, chief executive officer and founder of Istari Digital and former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, at an AIAA SciTech Forum 2026 session titled, “A Level Digital Playing Field – Vision & Urgency.”
Full Story (Aerospace America)
Soft Power and the Race to the Moon: Why Cislunar Norms Are the Next Hill to Hold
FROM THE INSTITUTE
For most of the Space Age, geopolitics played out in Earth orbit. That era is ending. The next strategic arena is cislunar space which is the vast volume from geosynchronous orbit out to, around, and including the moon. Cislunar space is sought after because it provides the ability to host the infrastructure that makes deep-space operations routine: communications relays, navigation beacons, refueling depots, scientific observatories, and eventually sustained lunar surface activity, including commercial operations.
Career Accelerator Ignites Student Momentum at AIAA SciTech Forum
FROM THE INSTITUTE
At AIAA SciTech Forum, a new student-focused career development program made a powerful debut—drawing packed rooms, buzzing conversations, and a palpable sense of momentum for the next generation of aerospace leaders. Designed as a full-day immersive experience, the Career Accelerator Program put university students front and center, equipping them with practical tools, inspiration, and direct access to industry leaders.
How a Tiny Plasma Device Could Reduce Drag and Make Future Aircraft Faster and Cleaner
FROM THE INSTITUTE
A tiny plasma device may hold the key to a long‑standing problem in aviation: skin‑friction drag. A thin strip of electrodes that ionizes the air (plasma) on an aircraft’s skin could make the aircraft more efficient, while using a minimum amount of energy. Thomas Corke, Clark Chair Professor of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame and the founding director of the university’s Flow Physics and Control Institute, explained that such a device can help a plane glide through the sky with less effort – without spending any more energy – by reducing drag, a long-standing challenge in aviation.