FROM THE INSTITUTE
ASCEND 2026 is where the global space community comes together to turn bold ideas into real outcomes. Bringing together 2,000+ leaders from industry, government, and academia, ASCEND covers everything from space economy and national security to lunar exploration and next-gen technology—across 130 sessions and 190 technical papers. Powered by AIAA and backed by partners including Lockheed Martin and the ISS National Laboratory, this is the event that drives the space sector forward. Secure your seat today, before rates go up.
Tag: Astronautics
NASA Shuts Down Voyager 1 Instrument to Extend Mission
SatNews reports, “On Friday, April 17, 2026, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) sent commands to deactivate one of the few remaining science instruments aboard Voyager 1. The decision to shut down the Low-energy Charged Particles (LECP) experiment was made to conserve the spacecraft’s dwindling power reserves, ensuring that the most distant human-made object can continue its historic journey through interstellar space for as long as possible.”
Full Story (SatNews)
New Glenn Booster Completes Hot Fire as Blue Origin Eyes Sunday Launch
Spaceflight Now reports, “Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket roared to life in a critical pre-launch demonstration of its main engines Thursday, less than an hour after the Sun crested over the horizon in Florida. The seven BE-4 engines fired for about 20 seconds, at 7:45 a.m. EDT (1145 UTC). Engineers will now pore through the data and if everything looks good, the launch with AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird-7 satellite could take place as soon as Sunday, April 19.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
NASA Solicits Industry Proposals for Next-Generation Relay Service
Space News reports, “NASA plans to seek proposals for commercial communications services that can be backward compatible with the agency’s aging fleet of relay satellites. NASA issued April 10 a draft solicitation for Project NEXUS, a part of the broader Commercial Services Project.”
Full Story (Space News)
SpaceX Launches Two Starlink Missions 19 Hours Apart
SPACE reports, “SpaceX began and ended the day with Starlink launches. The company sent two Falcon 9 rockets soaring, first from Florida before sunrise on Tuesday (April 14), and then from California after sunset the same day (by local time zone). Both launches were successful, according to SpaceX”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on April 14. (Launch occurs at the 0:13 mark)
VideoFromSpace; YouTube
Defense Firms Target Next Phase of Space Warfare With Agile Satellite Designs
Space News reports, “U.S. defense contractors BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin are accelerating internal investments in maneuverable satellite designs, betting that military advocacy for “dynamic space operations” will translate into sustained demand for spacecraft that can move, coordinate and respond in orbit. At the Space Symposium this week, both firms outlined separate efforts to fund and fly demonstration spacecraft designed to maneuver on orbit, shadow other satellites and operate as part of more networked architectures.”
Full Story (Space News)
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL Reaches ISS Carrying Tons of Supplies
SPACE reports, “The second of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft to deliver supplies to the orbiting outpost, the vehicle was captured by the space station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm at 1:20 p.m. EDT (1720 GMT) on Monday (April 13).”
Full Story (SPACE)
Watch: SpaceX Launches Cygnus XL Cargo Ship to Resupply ISS Crew
SPACE reports, “A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soared into a blue sky over Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 7:41 a.m. EDT (1141 GMT) on Saturday, sending Northrop Grumman’s ‘Cygnus XL’ resupply freighter toward the International Space Station (ISS).”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
SpaceX launches Cygnus XL cargo ship to ISS from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday at 7:41 a.m. EDT (Launch at the 00:12 mark)
VideoFromSpace; YouTube
AIAA Announces 2026 Award Recipients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA announced today its roster of award recipients whose transformative work over the past year stands out in an industry already known for pushing boundaries in innovation. The awards will be presented at various events during the coming months, including at ASCEND 2026 and AIAA AVIATION Forum 2026.
For more information about the AIAA Honors and Awards program, contact Patricia A. Carr at [email protected].
2026 AIAA Aeroacoustics Award
This award is presented for an outstanding technical or scientific achievement resulting from an individual’s contribution to the field of aircraft community noise reduction.
Stephen A. Rizzi
NASA Langley Research Center
For substantial contributions to understanding and reducing noise impact on communities and air vehicles in areas of perception-influenced design, advanced air mobility, and acoustic fatigue.
NASA Langley Research Center
For substantial contributions to understanding and reducing noise impact on communities and air vehicles in areas of perception-influenced design, advanced air mobility, and acoustic fatigue.
2026 AIAA Aerodynamics Award
This award is presented for meritorious achievement in the field of applied aerodynamics, recognizing notable contributions in the development, application, and evaluation of aerodynamic concepts and methods.
Walter Silva
NASA Langley Research Center
For seminal contributions to CFD-based unsteady aerodynamics, reduced-order models, visionary leadership in aeroelasticity, and internationally recognized excellence in teaching and research.
NASA Langley Research Center
For seminal contributions to CFD-based unsteady aerodynamics, reduced-order models, visionary leadership in aeroelasticity, and internationally recognized excellence in teaching and research.
2026 AIAA F.E. Newbold V/STOL Award
This award recognizes outstanding creative contributions to the advancement and realization of powered lift flight in one or more of the following areas: initiation, definition and/or management of key V/STOL programs; development of enabling technologies, including critical methodology; program engineering and design; and/or other relevant related activities or combinations thereof which have advanced the science of powered lift flight.
Mark Douglass Moore
Whisper Aero
For 40 years of technical leadership in breakthrough VTOL and STOL technologies: a pioneer of distributed electric propulsion, eVTOL, and the advanced air mobility ecosystem.
Whisper Aero
For 40 years of technical leadership in breakthrough VTOL and STOL technologies: a pioneer of distributed electric propulsion, eVTOL, and the advanced air mobility ecosystem.
To be presented: AeroTech in West Palm Beach, Fla., 2–4 June
2026 AIAA Fluid Dynamics Award
This award is presented for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the behavior of liquids and gases in motion as related to need in aeronautics and astronautics.
Brian J. Cantwell
Stanford University
For lifelong seminal advancements of fluid dynamics principles and turbulence modeling, including the development of a highly accurate Universal Velocity Profile for wall-bounded flows.
Stanford University
For lifelong seminal advancements of fluid dynamics principles and turbulence modeling, including the development of a highly accurate Universal Velocity Profile for wall-bounded flows.
2026 AIAA Ground Testing Award
This award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or effective utilization of technology, procedures, facilities, or modeling techniques for flight simulation, space simulation, propulsion testing, aerodynamic testing, or other ground testing associated with aeronautics and astronautics.
Carson D. Slabaugh
Purdue University
For pioneering experimental research and dedicated mentorship that advanced aerospace propulsion through groundbreaking ground testing, benchmark datasets, community leadership, and translation of discoveries into national capabilities for flight.
Purdue University
For pioneering experimental research and dedicated mentorship that advanced aerospace propulsion through groundbreaking ground testing, benchmark datasets, community leadership, and translation of discoveries into national capabilities for flight.
2026 AIAA Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Program Management
This award is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions in the management of a significant aeronautical or aeronautical-related program or project.
Leonard Zentz
Navy Strategic Systems Program (retired)
Hypersonics Fellow, System Planning & Analysis
For programmatic and technical leadership of the U.S. Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike effort leading to successful transition to Navy and Army prototype weapon systems.
Navy Strategic Systems Program (retired)
Hypersonics Fellow, System Planning & Analysis
For programmatic and technical leadership of the U.S. Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike effort leading to successful transition to Navy and Army prototype weapon systems.
2026 AIAA Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Award
This award is presented to recognize outstanding sustained contributions and achievements in enabling technologies and/or the integration of technologies for system applications in the advancement of hypersonic flight.
Peter J. Erbland
Department of Defense, Amentum
For an unparalleled career dedicated to the advancement of hypersonic technologies and flight systems, exemplifying the greatest integrity, personability, passion, and technical excellence while elevating our professional community.
Department of Defense, Amentum
For an unparalleled career dedicated to the advancement of hypersonic technologies and flight systems, exemplifying the greatest integrity, personability, passion, and technical excellence while elevating our professional community.
To be presented: 27th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technology Conference in Naples, Italy, 7–9 July
2026 AIAA Jeffries Aerospace Medicine and Life Sciences Research Award
This award recognizes outstanding research accomplishments in aerospace medicine and space life sciences.
Robert Morrow
Sierra Space
For excellence in scientific and technical leadership toward the development of state-of-the-art plant growth facilities for spacecraft, enabling high-quality space life science research.
Sierra Space
For excellence in scientific and technical leadership toward the development of state-of-the-art plant growth facilities for spacecraft, enabling high-quality space life science research.
To be presented: 55th International Conference on Environmental Systems in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, 12–16 July 2026
2026 AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Award
This award is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the development and/or application of techniques of multidisciplinary design optimization in the context of aerospace engineering.
Anne Gazaix
Airbus Operations SAS
For pioneering contributions to simulation software, collaborative innovation, and the industrial adoption of MDO methodologies.
Airbus Operations SAS
For pioneering contributions to simulation software, collaborative innovation, and the industrial adoption of MDO methodologies.
2026 AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award
This award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the understanding of the physical properties and dynamical behavior of matter in the plasma state and lasers as related to aeronautics and astronautics.
Campbell D. Carter
Air Force Research Laboratory
In recognition of outstanding achievements in high-speed advanced laser diagnostics and development of laser-based measuring systems for combustion and fluid dynamics research.
Air Force Research Laboratory
In recognition of outstanding achievements in high-speed advanced laser diagnostics and development of laser-based measuring systems for combustion and fluid dynamics research.
2026 AIAA Space Systems Award
This award recognizes outstanding achievements in the architecture, analysis, design, and implementation of space systems.
Johns Hopkins APL Parker Solar Probe Team
For achieving the first mission into a star’s atmosphere through unprecedented autonomy, thermal protection, mission design, and spacecraft design innovations.
For achieving the first mission into a star’s atmosphere through unprecedented autonomy, thermal protection, mission design, and spacecraft design innovations.
2026 AIAA Theodor W. Knacke Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Award
This award recognizes significant contributions that advance aeronautical or aerospace systems through research, development, and application of the art and science of aerodynamic decelerator technology.
Jean Potvin
Saint Louis University
For significant contributions to aerodynamic deceleration system science, data interpretation and integration, and education.
Saint Louis University
For significant contributions to aerodynamic deceleration system science, data interpretation and integration, and education.
To be presented: AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Conference and Seminar 2026 in collaboration with the Royal Aero Society, in London, United Kingdom, 1–5 June
2026 AIAA Thermophysics Award
This award is presented for an outstanding singular or sustained technical or scientific contribution by an individual in thermophysics, specifically as related to the study and application of the properties and mechanisms involved in thermal energy transfer and the study of environmental effects on such properties and mechanisms.
Christopher O. Johnston
NASA Langley Research Center
For groundbreaking advancements in the field of shock-layer radiative heating with significant impacts to entry vehicle designs, crew safety, and planetary protection threat assessments:
NASA Langley Research Center
For groundbreaking advancements in the field of shock-layer radiative heating with significant impacts to entry vehicle designs, crew safety, and planetary protection threat assessments:
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.
Artemis II Reentry Streams Tonight
SPACE reports, “A Virtual Telescope Project livestream will track NASA’s Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft as it races back toward Earth. Here’s how to watch it live.”
Full Story (SPACE)
VTP’s official WebTV